Biden raises concerns about China’s ‘coercion’ in first call with Xi

US President Joe Biden has spoken with President Xi Jinping – telling the communist leader “I will work with China when it benefits the American people” – as tensions flare between the two superpowers.

According to a White House media release about their discussion, Mr Biden raised concerns about China’s “coercive” behaviour.

“President Biden affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people’s security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.

“President Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan.

“The two leaders also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation.

“President Biden committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies.”

President Biden also extended “greetings and well wishes” to Chinese people for Lunar New Year.

The discussion between the two leaders came after the US president announced the Department of Defence had created a China Task Force.

The team is tasked with providing a “baseline assessment of department policies, programs and processes in regard to the challenge China poses”.

“China is seeking to overturn the current rules-based structure, which has benefitted all nations in the Indo-Pacific region,” the department said in a media release.

“The US and its allies seek to continue the free and open environment in the region.

“China is using all elements of national power to bend the nations to its will.”

[katherine]

I seriously DOUBT Biden is able to carry on a basic conversation!!!

[FootRock]

Just words on the screen. I guarantee he never bought up the subject of Hong Kong, Taiwan, human right abuses. They're telling us what they want us to hear

[Lisa-meqo]

I love how Biden appears to be doing all of these things yet he can't form a coherent sentence without a teleprompter lol

[coal_man]

Biden : don't push America
Xi : I paid to put you there
Biden : how high will I jump sir

[malignm]

President Xi said “Listen here boy, you and I both know wassup. Those tough words to the media are just words. Tell your son Hunter to give me a call😘”

[theowineman]

"Bad China, Bad China, my sons cheque is late.".

[ewdwsw]

Told his big boss that mission completed

[PsyQoBoy]

Winnie the Pooh be like: Okay
Biden: Alright looks like we have deal.
Winnie the Pooh: I just said Okay, but didn't confirm anything... Let's talk trade with China then.

[job]

Such comments! Where are all Joe's voters?

[NiickTheDiick]

“He said, concluding with a wink to Xi.”

[iamWATCHINGYOUUU]

I think there might be an agreement to sell Taiwan to China.

[ggluo]

10% for the big guy. You know the thing

[davidnierzwick]

Biden didn't talk...
He listened.

[sirdewd]

I’ve got to give him props. He didn’t say Chinese new yeah (which it is Lunar new year), and he publicly stated/tweeted about the CCP’s flaws like economic manipulation, human rights abuses and so on. The administration is even banning CCP official’s visas. I’m not saying I was always a fan or even a fan of everything he has done or been doing, but I’ll give him credit where credit is due.

[s.a.]

Good to see Kamala taking a tough stance here and writing the POTUS Twitter comments instead of Biden.

[dab]

“I got hairy legs that … turn blonde in the sun and the kids used to come up and reach in the pool and rub my leg down so it was straight and watch the hair come back up again. They’d look at it. So, I learned about roaches, I learned about kids jumping on my lap, and I’ve loved kids jumping on my lap.”

[michaelb]

What a joke....good one...., China Has Bought and paid for this Potato.

[aaronewell]

Act tough but take 10% for the big guy

[FDT]

Not as weak as you all thought he’d be. More disappointment

[biloz]

Biden did not call. They wrote what he read