Washington DC, 13 February 2023 (TDI): President of the United States (US) Joe Biden said in the State of the Union address that he would cooperate with China, but also vowed to protect the sovereignty of the US if threatened.
The comment came last week, over the alleged Chinese spy balloon that traveled across America.
During the address, Biden said, “I am committed to working with China where we can advance American interests and benefit the world. But if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country.”
President Biden also added that China itself has problems including an economy that is not functioning very well.
Also read: Wang Yi urges US to form right perception about China
Following a brief warming after a November G20 meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, US-China relations have once again deteriorated. Notably, US States Secretary Antony Blinken has also called off the visit to Beijing over the Balloon fracas.
China’s response
On the other hand, China has denied the claims, arguing it was a weather observation craft that blew off course.
Later, China confirmed it had refused the offer of a call between the two countries’ Defense Chiefs after Washington shot down the inflatable aircraft.
China’s Defense Minister, Wei Fenghe said in his statement, “This irresponsible and seriously mistaken approach by the US did not create a proper atmosphere for dialogue and exchanges between the two militaries.”
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning has also responded to Biden’s comment. She said, “The Chinese side has always believed that China-US relations are not a zero-sum game in which you lose and I win, and you rise and I fall.”
China does not fear competition, but we oppose using competition to define the entire China-US relationship, Mao reiterated.
It is pertinent to note that the US has shot down four flying objects including a Chinese suspected surveillance balloon and an unidentified object in a span of two weeks.
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