US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken believes that the US-China conflict, if it arises, would be contrary to the interests of both states. He said this in an interview with CBS News, which aired on May 2.
“Getting to that point, or even moving in that direction, is deeply contrary to the interests of both China and the United States,” he said.
Blinken noted that over the past few years, “we have seen China behave more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad.”
The secretary of state also said that the administration of US President Joe Biden has concerns about “the theft of intellectual property by China”, accusing Beijing of “unfair and hostile competition.”
According to Blinken, Washington, along with like-minded people and other “offended countries” should tell China that “this should not and will not continue.”
US First Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said on April 30 that the United States does not believe an armed conflict with China is inevitable. She clarified that states should try to avoid unnecessary escalation of tensions between countries.
At the same time, on April 28, Biden said that the United States is in a state of competition with China and a number of other states for the palm in the 21st century. According to him, he notified Chinese President Xi Jinping of measures to protect American interests.
On April 28, it was reported that US senators proposed a bill “On the principle of full reciprocity – 2021” for consideration by Congress, which should eliminate “a significant imbalance” in relations between the United States and China.
Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said on April 18 that competition between the United States and China was inevitable. But, he said, Beijing is in favor of keeping her healthy. Yucheng noted that China and the United States are the world’s largest economies, and therefore are obliged to settle relations.