U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) says President Joe Biden is to blame for escalating tensions with China, saying the president has "enabled" China after comments by Qin Gang, China's new foreign minister, who warned of inevitable "confrontation and conflict" between the two nations.
"Joe Biden has enabled and emboldened China for the past two years and is responsible for both the rhetoric and aggression coming out of Beijing,” Gosar told Federal Newswire, commenting on remarks Gang made in a recent press conference.
Gang criticized the U.S. for distorting its perception and views of China. He expressed his disagreement with the U.S.'s portrayal of China as its primary rival and biggest geopolitical challenge, arguing that the U.S. seeks to contain and suppress China instead of engaging in fair competition.
He emphasized that the relationship between China and the U.S. is crucial for a healthy and stable world. Gang stated that China hopes the U.S. government will rid itself of its strategic anxiety of "threat inflation," abandon the zero-sum Cold War mentality and avoid being influenced by "political correctness." He expressed hope that the U.S. will fulfill its commitments and work with China to find a mutually beneficial way of coexisting that benefits both nations and the entire world.
According to NBC News, Gang's news conference took place on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp legislature, where President Xi Jinping is expected to complete the biggest government reshuffle in a decade. Gang rebuked Washington's decision early last month to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, repeating Beijing's insistence that it appeared over U.S. territory by accident.
“Western countries led by the United States have implemented all-around containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented severe challenges to our country’s development,” he said, according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. On Taiwan, Gang said it was the first red line in China's relations with the U.S., which is Taiwan's most important international backer.
“The U.S. bears unshirkable responsibility for the creation of the Taiwan issue,” he said, according to NBC News.
NBC News has also reported that China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, although China has tried to appear neutral in the conflict, refraining from condemning Russian aggression or calling it an invasion.
Gang said that China-Russia relations "must move steadily forward" as the world becomes more turbulent. However, Beijing denies U.S. allegations that China is considering providing Russia with ammunition and artillery to aid in its fight against Ukraine.
