U.S., EUROPE AND NATO MOVE TO CONTAIN AN AGGRESSIVE CHINA

The United States and European countries are closing ranks to respond to what the US calls “aggressive and coercive” behavior by China, days after the US and its allies launched coordinated sanctions against Chinese officials accused of rights abuses in the far-western Xinjiang region, Lorne Cook reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday (Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Manila) that he wants to work with the US’s partners on “how to advance our shared economic interests and to counter some of China’s aggressive and coercive actions, as well as its failures, at least in the past, to uphold its international commitments.”

Blinken agreed in talks with senior European Union (EU) officials on the launch of what EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described as an EU-US dialogue on China “to discuss the full range of related challenges and opportunities."

He added: “We share an assessment of China’s role as a partner, as a competitor, and a systemic rival.”

Earlier, at NATO headquarters, Blinken said “when we are acting together, we are much stronger and much more effective than if any single one of us is doing it alone.”

He noted that alone the US accounts for about 25% of global GDP, but up to 60% with its allies in Europe and Asia. “That’s a lot harder for Beijing to ignore,” he said.

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