Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives have voiced strong criticism of the Biden administration’s approach towards China, accusing it of pursuing “fruitless engagement” and adopting a policy of appeasement. They argue that the administration has participated in talks with Beijing on terms set by China, displayed weakness, and delayed important competitive actions required in the US’s strategic competition with China.
While the Biden administration rejects these accusations and asserts that it has taken unprecedented steps to compete with China, Republican leaders express concerns. During a hearing convened by the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s subcommittee on Indo-Pacific affairs, Republican representatives Michael McCaul and Kim Young questioned US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, about the administration’s China policy.
McCaul, a senior Republican foreign policy figure, highlighted instances to support his argument that recent diplomacy with China demonstrated weakness. He mentioned incidents such as the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon traversing US territory, China’s hacking of senior officials’ emails, and the delay in enforcing sanctions under the Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act. McCaul emphasized the need for effective diplomacy that shapes the adversary rather than allowing the adversary to dictate terms.
Chairwoman Kim Young expressed concerns about the administration’s pursuit of fruitless engagements with China, especially regarding pending weapon sales to Taiwan and the lack of interest in pursuing free trade agreements. She emphasized the importance of concrete economic arrangements and called for better engagement between the State Department and Congress to adopt a “whole of government” approach in dealing with China.
In response, Kritenbrink defended the administration’s approach, asserting that they have not held back in any way and have taken unprecedented steps in various areas. He highlighted efforts to hold China accountable for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, actions against Huawei, and serious engagement with China based on the US’s timeline and conditions.
Despite the differing perspectives, both parties acknowledged the significance of the strategic competition with China in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration maintains that it is engaging from a position of confidence, building capabilities with allies and partners, and enforcing sanctions against China.
The discussion underscores the ongoing debate over the best approach to address the challenges posed by China and highlights the differing views between Republicans and the Biden administration.
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