Foreign Policy

President Biden Vows To Keep Economic Growth Ahead Of China

The president also says the U.S. will continue to call out China on human rights violations over its alleged abuse of Uyghur Muslims.

President Biden Vows To Keep Economic Growth Ahead Of China
Evan Vucci / The Associated Press
SMS

In his first official news conference, President Biden said he won't let China pass up the U.S. as the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world. 

"That's not going to happen on my watch because the United States is continue to grow and expand," he said.

The president also says the U.S. will continue to call out China on human rights violations over its alleged abuse of Uyghur Muslims and approach to Hong Kong. 

On the business front, he says he welcomes competition from China, but says it has to play fair.

"We'll have strong competition, but we'll insist that China play by the international rules: fair competition, fair practices, fair trade," he said. 

China says it's on board for fair competition, but says it's been treated unfairly in recent years.

"How can we have fair competition when China's companies are discriminated against, when Chinese senior CEOs are detained without any reason, when there's such clear attempt to politicize everything," Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai said.

But in some cases, it's China that has blacklisted businesses and individuals it disagrees with.