MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a speech at George Washington University on Thursday that was dedicated to changes in Washington’s foreign policy with a focus on China. The US State Department sent around excerpts from the speech.
Blinken called China the main challenge to existing world order, however, he also separately mentioned Russia as a threat.
Here are the highlights from that speech.
World order
The US believes China poses "the most serious long-term challenge to the international order." Beijing is the only nation in the world, Washington believes, that plans to change the world order as it possesses an increasing economic, diplomatic, military and technological might.
Blinken said Russia and its President Vladimir Putin also were a serious threat to that world order.
Deterrence
Nonetheless, the US isn’t looking for a new Cold War and don’t seek to sever China from the global economy, Blinken said. But the US won’t compromise its principles for cooperation with China, either, he said.
"We cannot rely on Beijing to change its trajectory. So we will shape the strategic environment around Beijing to advance our vision for an open and inclusive international system," the official said.
Taiwan
Although Washington assured it doesn’t support Taiwan independence, it’s against any unilateral changes in the status quo, Blinken said. He stated that mainland China is using increasingly provocative rhetoric and activities.