Xi Jinping takes unexpected stance on relations with US: Here's what the Chinese President said

Updated on October 28, 2022 at 5:09 PM

by Luan Trimi

According to the Pentagon, China represents the biggest security threat to the US, while the Chinese leader says the two biggest economies need to find ways to get along.

The US regards China as the biggest security threat, Xi Jinping says world powers need to get along

On Thursday, the US Pentagon published three policy reports which outline the country's defense strategy under President Biden's tenure, meanwhile Xi Jinping in a letter to celebrate US-China relations has chosen a concilliatory tone and says the world powers need to get along.

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Reshaping the international order

According to the National Defense Strategy, China is the biggest threat to America, and therefore policies will be shaped to increase preparedness against the threats posed by Beijing. They stated, as quoted by France 24, that China:

presents the most consequential and systemic challenge, while Russia poses acute threats -- both to vital US national interests abroad and to the homeland

Moreover, the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin has said China is 'the pacing challenge' for the Pentagon, New York Post reports.

As the president’s national security strategy notes, [China] is the only competitor out there with both the attempt to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the power to do so.

Both sides do not seek conflict

The new US defense policies suggest that a conflict with China is both ‘inevitable and undesirable’.

thumbnail — The US regards China as the biggest security threat, Xi Jinping says world powers need to get along Bloomberg / Contributeur

Reports suggest that Joe Biden recently told security chiefs that the US is not seeking conflict with China.

This comes after months of increased tensions between the two world powers. This especially regarding the status of the breakaway island of Taiwan.

By the same token, Chinese President Xi Jinping, has expressed a conciliatory tone in a congratulatory letter to the annual gala of the National Committee on US-China Relations a NGO based in New-York on Thursday 27 October. He stated, as reported by Al Jazeera:

'As major powers, strengthening communication and cooperation between China and the US will help to increase global stability and certainty, and promote world peace and development. China is willing to work with the US to give mutual respect, coexist peacefully, and find ways to get along in the new era.'

Sources used:

-New York Post: 'Pentagon keeps China in crosshairs as top threat facing US'

-Al Jazeera: 'Xi Jinping says China and US must ‘find ways to get along’

- France 24: 'Acute threats' from Russia, but China is main challenge: US military'