China will 'eat our lunch,' Biden warns after clashing with Xi on most fronts

By David Brunnstrom, Alexandra Alper and Yew Lun Tian

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., February 10, 2021. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held their first phone call as leaders and appeared at odds on most issues, even as Xi warned that confrontation would be a "disaster" for both nations.

 

While Xi has called for "win-win" cooperation, Biden has called China America's "most serious competitor" and vowed to "out compete" Beijing.

 

On Thursday, Biden told a bipartisan group of U.S. senators at a meeting on the need to upgrade U.S. infrastructure the United States must raise its game in the face of the Chinese challenge.

 

Biden said he spoke to Xi for two hours on Wednesday night and warned the senators: "If we don't get moving, they are going to eat our lunch."

 

"They're investing billions of dollars dealing with a whole range of issues that relate to transportation, the environment and a whole range of other things. We just have to step up."

 

The White House said Biden emphasized to Xi it was a U.S. priority to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific, a region where the United States and China are major strategic rivals.

 

He also voiced "fundamental" concerns about Beijing's "coercive and unfair" trade practices, as well as about human rights issues, including China's crackdown in Hong Kong and treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang, and its increasingly assertive actions in Asia, including toward Taiwan.

 

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden also expressed concern about China's lack of transparency over the coronavirus.

 

All the rights issues Biden mentioned were ones Beijing has explicitly told his administration it should stay out of.

 

Xi told Biden confrontation would be a "disaster" and the two sides should re-establish the means to avoid misjudgments, China's foreign ministry said.

 

Xi maintained a hardline tone on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan, calling them matters of "sovereignty and territorial integrity" he hoped Washington would approach cautiously.

 

The call was the first between Chinese and U.S. leaders since Xi spoke with former President Donald Trump last March 27, nearly 11 months ago. Since then, relations between the world's two biggest economies have plunged.

 

Trump blamed China for starting the COVID-19 pandemic and launched a series of actions against China, including a trade war and sanctions against Chinese officials and firms considered security threats.

 

Xi congratulated Biden on his election in a message in November, even though Biden had called him a "thug" during the campaign and vowed to lead an international effort to "pressure, isolate and punish China."

 

OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION

The Biden administration has signaled it will maintain pressure on Beijing, and has endorsed a Trump administration determination that China has committed genocide in Xinjiang.

 

At the same time, it has pledged to take a more multilateral approach and is keen to cooperate with Beijing on issues like climate change and persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

 

Biden has stressed the relationship he established with Xi when vice president under Barack Obama, through more than 24 hours of private meetings and 17,000 miles of travel together.

 

On Thursday, he said he had a good conversation with Xi and knew him well. However, a senior administration official told reporters ahead of the call Biden would be "practical, hard-headed, clear-eyed" in dealings with Xi.

 

At the same time, the official said, Biden wanted to ensure they had the opportunity to have an open line of communication.

 

Chinese officials have expressed some optimism bilateral relations will improve under Biden and have urged Washington to meet Beijing halfway.

 

Readouts of the call from both sides mentioned areas for potential cooperation, honing in on climate change and fighting COVID-19.

 

China's foreign ministry said Xi had quoted back to Biden the U.S. president's saying that "America can be defined in one word: Possibilities."

 

"We hope the possibilities will now point toward an improvement of China-U.S. relations," it quoted Xi as saying.

 

The editor-in-chief of the Chinese Communist Party-backed tabloid, the Global Times, said in a tweet the fact that the call lasted two hours was "a very positive message" that showed "in-depth communication."

 

Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said there was room for cooperation, but differences were wide.

 

FILE PHOTO: China's President Xi Jinping speaks while taking part in an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's participation in the Korean War at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 23, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo

 

"The concerns highlighted by President Biden are in essence all Chinese core interests. So narrowing differences is going to be very challenging," she said. "Xi did not suggest that there are preconditions for bilateral cooperation on issues such as climate change, so that is one positive takeaway."

 

Another CSIS expert, Scott Kennedy, said that while Xi had proposed extensive bilateral exchanges, things would take time, given Biden's plans for a thorough review of strategy.

 

"We may end up not far from where things are now, in terms of overall tone, but it’s also possible the two sides will find a pathway to stabilize their relationship, both the extent and manner of competition as well as areas of cooperation," he said.

 

A U.S. official said Washington was in a position of strength after consultations with allies and partners to lay out concerns about China's "aggressive activities and abuses."

 

He said the administration would look in coming months at adding "new targeted restrictions" on sensitive technology exports to China and also that there would be no quick moves to lift Trump administration tariffs on Chinese imports.

 

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Alexandra Alper and Tim Ahmann in Washington, and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; writing by Se Young Lee and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Mary Milliken and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-12

 

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Go Joe go but don't think they are interested in your lunch unless its still moving ????

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

China's foreign ministry said Xi had quoted back to Biden the U.S. president's saying that "America can be defined in one word: Possibilities."

And China one word - dishonest

Devious

Biden was an astonishingly bad choice of candidate, in a year when Covid all but guaranteed a Democrat win. You could have had Tulsi Gabbard. You could have had Andrew Yang. God help you, you could probably even have managed to get Bernie into office.

But, no. You picked Joe Biden. Well done. Well done everyone.

 

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

Xi congratulated Biden on his election in a message in November, even though Biden had called him a "thug" during the campaign and vowed to lead an international effort to "pressure, isolate and punish China."

Good on you Joe, don't ever trust the Emperor for Life!

2 minutes ago, donnacha said:

But, no. You picked Joe Biden. Well done. Well done everyone.

The majority has spoken!

6 hours ago, donnacha said:

Biden was an astonishingly bad choice of candidate, in a year when Covid all but guaranteed a Democrat win. You could have had Tulsi Gabbard. You could have had Andrew Yang. God help you, you could probably even have managed to get Bernie into office.

But, no. You picked Joe Biden. Well done. Well done everyone.

 

 

Have to be pragmatic and view the efforts of the incumbent,. "What if" is a waste of time. BTW I'm not a US citizen.

6 minutes ago, simple1 said:

BTW I'm not a US citizen.

Yes, I know. Hardly any of the American Politics experts on this forum are.

 

What about W.H.O. investigation into [the] virus?  Waste of time . They saw what CCP allowed them to see

13 minutes ago, donnacha said:

Yes, I know. Hardly any of the American Politics experts on this forum are.

 

Didn't observe too many US citizen experts, there are some notable standouts providing reasoned insights, but mainly poster echo chambers of trump hyperbolic partisan BS. However, to repeat, "What if" is a waste of time.

6 hours ago, donnacha said:

Biden was an astonishingly bad choice of candidate, in a year when Covid all but guaranteed a Democrat win. You could have had Tulsi Gabbard. You could have had Andrew Yang. God help you, you could probably even have managed to get Bernie into office.

But, no. You picked Joe Biden. Well done. Well done everyone.

 

It’s good to see we have good fact based pragmatic leadership here in America now and so sorry to disappoint you but I’m sure many experts in their fields are going over that 2 hour conversation with the intention of advising president Biden on an appropriate course of action and here’s the kicker Joe Biden is smart enough to listen react appropriately for the betterment of the NATION not himself great isent it!!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

If we don't get moving, they are going to eat our lunch.

Stealing peoples lunch? That´s low!

2 hours ago, donnacha said:

Yes, I know. Hardly any of the American Politics experts on this forum are.

 

You missed the point! That´s the greatness! You just don´t need to be an expert to see the lunacy. It´s like an open book.

 

On the other hand. Now when Biden took over, it can only get better. So, if you didn´t complain  then there is no need to start now.

6 hours ago, donnacha said:

Biden was an astonishingly bad choice of candidate, in a year when Covid all but guaranteed a Democrat win. You could have had Tulsi Gabbard. You could have had Andrew Yang. God help you, you could probably even have managed to get Bernie into office.

But, no. You picked Joe Biden. Well done. Well done everyone.

 

If Biden is so bad but over half the electorate chose him over 45, what does that say about Trump?

One day the inevitable show down MUST happen.

It absolutely must.

 

These two superpowers cannot coexist peacefully on the same planet.

There needs to be a decider at some point.

My money would be on the west eventually claiming victory but it will be one hell of a battle.

 

It is not a question of if it will happen, it is a question of when & who will fire first.

 

 

It would also be more accurate to say China has steadily lifted their people out of poverty while simultaneously emphasising the superiority of the Han culture to the detriment of all other indigenous cultures, and also exerting widespread controls over all aspects of their citizens private lives.

 

Cooperation is usually better than confrontation, but it is naive to assume that Chinese intentions in Asia-Pacific are altruistic and for the greater good of the region. 

 

It's hard to believe that joe_i clashed for real with Xi.  The clashes were like those in pro wrestling, choreographed, though not requiring any skill.

2 minutes ago, ExpatOK said:

It's hard to believe that joe_i clashed for real with Xi.  The clashes were like those in pro wrestling, choreographed, though not requiring any skill.

Aren't you talking about Trump?

2 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Aren't you talking about Trump?

He did take down Vince McMahon, didn't he!

Unattributed troll post and replies have been removed also a derogatory post referring to POTUS

Derogatory "name -calling" removed.

 

If you feel the need to resort to childish name calling its better you resist the urge to post as it will simply be removed. Persist and posters may face a suspension.

42 minutes ago, ExpatOK said:

He did take down Vince McMahon, didn't he!

Weak Minds are easily misled--hence Maga...whom Im betting are big wrestling fans...

5 hours ago, webfact said:

While Xi has called for "win-win" cooperation, Biden has called China America's "most serious competitor" and vowed to "out compete" Beijing.

The US Govt are great diplomats. ????

 

China will 'NOT eat our lunch,' Biden--(2 May 2019) 

 

(2 May 2019) Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden downplayed the economic threat posed by China during a campaign stop in Iowa on Tuesday. He scoffed at the idea that China could overtake the U.S. as a world leader, telling a crowd in Iowa City, "China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man." Biden's comments come as U.S. and Chinese negotiators hold more talks aimed at ending a bruising tariff war. Washington wants Beijing to roll back industry development plans it says are based in part on stolen technology and that violate its market-opening commitments.

 

 

3 hours ago, Dagfinnur Traustason said:

Stealing peoples lunch? That´s low!

You've summed them up perfectly!

 

I believe a good example of future Sino US relations is provided in the documentary 'American Factory' where a closed GM factory is taken over by the Chinese Fuyao Glass company.   Since opening in 2014 the company has made huge profits and continued to expand its operations.  And this in a landscape where local enterprise's only achievement has been a nett loss.  In 2014 American employees were earning less than 50% of their salaries when the GM factory closed in 2008, unions are banned and there are no penalty rates.  Americans are just cheap labour who I guess are looked at the same as Americans view Mexicans.  And this is going on all around the world, in Africa, SE Asia, Australia etc.

 

If the US is worried about Chinese expansion it is confronting it completely the wrong way.  The US still relies on a brute force 'Neanderthal' style approach to measure power/control.  WW1 and WW2 have taught some of us that the 'Neanderthal'  approach doesnt work in the long run because its a logistical nightmare to support a soldier on every street corner.  Both the Japanese and the Nazis were bound for defeat sooner or later in WW2 because of the same logistics. 

 

If the Chinese are in fact looking at expansion they will achieve it through their already proven intelligent economic efficiency.   If the US wishes to compete it will need to adopt the same approach........if its capable.

I think many of us agree, that the Chinese government is up to no good, most of the time, cannot be trusted, is very power hungry, and is looking at world domination, as a long term plan. And it is good that Biden is standing up to them. However, Trump proved that the "sledgehammer approach" does not work with China. They are too rich, too powerful, too proud, and too strong for anyone to even attempt the "bull in a China closet" (no pun intended) approach that Trump failed so miserably with. He cost America alot of jobs, and tens of billions in losses. I think Biden is smarter than that.

21 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said:

If the Chinese are in fact looking at expansion they will achieve it through their already proven intelligent economic efficiency. 

 

 

Intelligent? Try brutal and domineering. 

 

 

“The incident at Premier indicates the growing tension between Zimbabwean citizens and Chinese nationals who are viewed as operating above the law and with impunity. The same Chinese mining company, Zhong Jian, was last November at the centre of controversy when it reportedly used an excavator to fill a mine shaft where scores of artisanal miners where working under. Only two bodies were recovered and the search was abandoned after the company’s general manager Yancey Feng said he wanted evidence there were 10 people missing from the nearby community."

 

 https://www.newzimbabwe.com/chinese-nationals-severely-injured-fighting-artisanal-miners/

3 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

 

It would also be more accurate to say China has steadily lifted their people out of poverty while simultaneously emphasising the superiority of the Han culture to the detriment of all other indigenous cultures, and also exerting widespread controls over all aspects of their citizens private lives.

 

Cooperation is usually better than confrontation, but it is naive to assume that Chinese intentions in Asia-Pacific are altruistic and for the greater good of the region. 

 

Vietnam was originally part of China and called Nam Viet.

 

And I dont understand your argument when you compare Indian border skirmishes with carpet bombing by the US.......there is quite a difference you know.