Pompeo: "China is a Mass Murderer" · Blinken: "Tough Stance on China is Right" (Summary)

Biden Administration Likely to Continue Tough Stance on China Following Trump Government
But Policy Approach Expected to Differ

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The Donald Trump administration and the new Joe Biden administration, which had failed to find common ground, confirmed that they share the same stance on a tough policy toward China.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Tony Blinken, the nominee for U.S. Secretary of State, stated at the Senate confirmation hearing on the 19th (local time) that there is no doubt that China is the most significant challenge from the American perspective.

Blinken also evaluated that it was right for President Donald Trump to take a tougher approach toward China.

He said, "I disagree with the way he proceeded in many areas," but added, "The basic principle was correct."

Blinken's remarks on this day were interpreted as showing the Biden administration's intention to continue a tough stance on China but to approach it differently from the Trump administration. Blinken agreed with the U.S. State Department's decision and announcement that China committed genocide in the Xinjiang region, saying, "I would have come to the same conclusion."

The Donald Trump administration officially announced on its last day in office that China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang region.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in a press release that this judgment was made after a thorough verification of facts.

Pompeo emphasized, "The genocide is ongoing. We are witnessing a systematic attempt by the Chinese Communist Party and government to destroy the Uyghur people."

Pompeo also assessed, "Since March 2017, local Chinese authorities have dramatically expanded policies of repression against members of ethnic and religious minority groups, including Uyghur Muslims."

The Wall Street Journal noted that it is extremely rare for the U.S. State Department to mention genocide and highlighted that this judgment came on the last day of the Trump administration’s term. This can be read as a ‘nail in the coffin’ regarding China policy. Pompeo was one of the few Trump administration officials who maintained a tough offensive against China until the last day of the term.

Republican Senator Ben Sasse also welcomed the State Department’s announcement in a statement, saying, "This decision is right but came too late."

The Journal recalled that the Biden campaign last year also pointed out that the Chinese government was involved in genocide and suggested that President-elect Biden would confront this issue strongly.

Meanwhile, Blinken said regarding the Iran issue that if Iran complies with the agreement, the U.S. will return to the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).