"WASHINGTON -- President-elect Joe Biden's pick for secretary of state backed a tough approach to China and found common ground with Republicans on issues ranging from Israel to Venezuela, hinting at a more unified approach to foreign policy in the next four years.
Antony Blinken, who served as deputy secretary of state during the Obama administration, agreed with GOP senators in his confirmation hearing that previous optimistic approaches to China were flawed and backed the tougher approach -- if not the tactics -- that President Trump adopted.
"There was a broad consensus that economic liberalization in China would lead to political liberalization -- that did not happen," Mr. Blinken said. "There is no doubt that [China] poses the most significant challenge of any nation-state in the world to the United States."
Mr. Blinken said there are cooperative aspects to the relationship with China, and aides to Mr. Biden have suggested they could work with Beijing on curbing climate change and some other issues.
Yet Mr. Blinken said he supports Tuesday's finding by Mike Pompeo, the current secretary of state, that China has committed genocide in Xinjiang with its policies toward the Uighur ethnic group; he backed military and global diplomatic support for Taiwan as it faces pressure from Beijing; he questioned the future of Hong Kong as a center for global businesses; and he echoed Mr. Trump and others in criticizing China for misleading the world about the origin of the coronavirus pandemic, contributing to its spread." [1]
1. U.S. News: Blinken Backs Keeping Tough China Policy
Mauldin, William; Gordon, Michael R. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]20 Jan 2021: A.6.
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