Biden Vows Iron Hand Vs. China's Abuses In 1st Foreign Policy Speech

President Joe Biden has formalized his administration's tough stand against China's abuses, saying he'll call out economic and human rights violations by America’s “most serious competitor" in his first major policy speech since ascending the presidency on January 20.

Biden on Thursday declared "America is back" as leader of the free world. He also proclaimed "diplomacy is back at the center" of U.S. foreign policy.

Biden pledged to restore U.S. alliances and lead with multilateral diplomacy to meet international crises while reversing ex-President Donald Trump's jingoistic "America First" foreign policy. Abuses by Russia and China are at the top of his list.

“We will confront China’s economic abuses,” said Biden, who described China as America’s “most serious competitor.”

He said the U.S. will resist China's "economic abuses, counter its aggressive, coercive action to push back on China's attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance."

His administration's relationship with Beijing won't only be confrontational, however. He said the U.S, will also be ready “to work with Beijing when it’s in America’s interest to do so. We’ll compete from a position of strength by building back better at home and working with our allies and partners.”

Biden reminded everyone he's spent more time with China’s President Xi Jinping than any other world leader over the past two decades in a hint he's laid the groundwork for working with the Chinese leader.

True to earlier statements, Biden again promised to work more closely with U.S. allies in Asia and Europe to oppose China and Russia.

“Over the past two weeks, I’ve spoken with the leaders of many of our closest friends–Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, France, NATO, Japan, South Korea, and Australia–to begin re-forming the habits of cooperation and rebuilding the muscles of democratic alliances that have atrophied from four years of neglect and abuse,” said Biden.

President Joe Biden gestures

His message is similar to those made the other day by the Department of State and the Department of Defense. The U.S. is  more concerned about talking to U.S. allies first, said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki and State Department spokesman Ned Price speaking at separate press events.

"So, as a first step we want to make sure that we are in lockstep with those allies, in lockstep with those partners, and then ... you can expect that there will be engagement in several areas with China," said Price.

He said it's "no coincidence" Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's initial interactions were with America's allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. He described U.S. alliances and partnerships as a "force multiplier" that advance U.S. national interests.

Price described America’s relationship with China as one viewed "through the lens of competition and positioning ourselves to compete and ultimately to out-compete with the Chinese."

"We know that China is engaged in a range of conduct that … threatens our alliances and influence international organizations."

"And China has engaged in gross human rights violations that shock the conscience. So we will counter China's aggressive and coercive actions, sustain our key military advantages, defend democratic values, invest in advanced technologies and restore are vital security partnerships," he said. (4 Feb. 2021)