In a candid and somewhat foreboding declaration, President Joe Biden referred to China as a “ticking time bomb,” cautioning, “when bad folks have problems, they do bad things.”
The president’s remarks were made during a fundraiser Thursday in Park City, Utah.
The exact context of Biden’s statement remains somewhat elusive, though it was assumed that he might have been referring to China’s increasing unemployment rates and its aging population, according to The New York Post.
Yet, despite his apparent reservations, Biden voiced a desire for a “rational relationship with China.”
While the President’s intention behind such remarks wasn’t fully elaborated on, the undercurrents of tension between the U.S. and China have been palpable, particularly concerning Taiwan’s independence.
The primary concern has been that Chinese President Xi Jinping might eventually decide to assert control over Taiwan, merging it with the Communist-ruled mainland. The apprehension comes as Jinping’s stance and actions have frequently underscored a commitment to such a unification.
This is not the first time Biden has shared unfiltered opinions. According to The New York Post, his propensity to speak more candidly during fundraisers has led to controversial moments, including a previous diplomatic dispute with Beijing, where he referred to Xi Jinping as a “dictator.”
READ MORE: China: all talk, balking at the walk
Biden’s critics, especially among Republicans, often rebuke him for not adopting a more assertive stance toward China on pressing issues like the fentanyl crisis. The China-sourced chemical has resulted in an alarming number of overdose deaths in the U.S. over recent years.
Additionally, some critics feel Biden doesn’t sufficiently challenge Beijing on the possible origins of COVID-19, which are widely believed to have stemmed from a laboratory in Wuhan.
The focus on Biden’s stance towards China coincides with increased scrutiny over his family’s business dealings in the country. Former President Donald Trump, who is widely considered Biden’s top competitor in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, recently alleged China has financially compensated Biden, leading to his apparent weakness towards the country.
“I believe we have a compromised President,” Trump said in a Wednesday interview on Newsmax. “I believe he’s so petrified of China because they know how much money has been given to him.”
Hunter Biden, the President’s son, has also notably been involved in ventures in China, raising eyebrows about the potential conflict of interest, especially in light of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s investigation into the Biden family.
This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.
