(NewsNation) — Florida governor and GOP presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis criticized present President Joe Biden’s actions in terms of U.S.-China relations at a time when tensions are rising between the 2 nations.
“When it comes to China — I imply, simply take into consideration how humiliating that is for the nation,” DeSantis mentioned at a information convention, the place he introduced a lawsuit towards the Biden Administration. “They flew a spy balloon clear throughout the continental United States with mainly no pushback. Our individuals knew this balloon was coming.”
Earlier this 12 months, the U.S. navy shot down a suspected Chinese language spy equipment whereas it was over the Atlantic Ocean, days after the Pentagon revealed it had been monitoring the balloon because it flew throughout the nation.
President Joe Biden has beforehand defended his international coverage stance towards China, saying his resolution to shoot down the surveillance balloon is proof that his administration is prepared to guard the nation.
“Yeah, they lastly shot it after had already gotten all the information that it wanted,” DeSantis mentioned.
One other subject DeSantis touched on on the information convention was a Wall Avenue Journal story alleging Cuba and China agreed to put in an eavesdropping facility on the island. DeSantis mentioned these amenities are a “slap within the face” to the nation.
Cuban Deputy International Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío Domínguez has flatly denied the settlement, calling the newspaper’s info “completely mendacious and unfounded,” and the allegations “fallacies.”
Nevertheless, DeSantis nonetheless used the information to criticize Biden, saying that Chinese language officers “notice he’s weak.”
“They’re making the most of the weak point,” he mentioned. “I feel what the (Chinese language Communist Get together) understands is the language of power… If a pacesetter is saying what they imply, and which means what they are saying and is prepared to again it up, they’re not going to mess with that.”
Added DeSantis: “I feel (Biden’s) entire strategy to China has been flawed.”
DeSantis mentioned America must be “economically sovereign.” Proper now, he mentioned, the U.S. is just too depending on shopping for gadgets and supplies from China.
“It’s one factor to say you cope with different nations. And naturally, we must try this,” DeSantis acknowledged. “However to have a lot vital points in our nation depend upon China just isn’t wholesome.”
One thing else the USA must do is “challenge energy,” and work with Japan, Korea, India, Australia and different allies to test “Chinese language expansionism,” DeSantis mentioned.
DeSantis’ feedback come after Biden made remarks calling Chinese language chief Xi Jinping a “dictator” and China a rustic with “actual financial difficulties” after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a go to to Beijing on Monday.
China’s International Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned Biden’s feedback had been “extraordinarily absurd and irresponsible.”
Biden administration officers Wednesday defended what Biden mentioned. The president has made a degree of drawing distinctions between the world’s democracies and autocracies, officers mentioned. On Thursday, Biden mentioned his calling Xi a dictator didn’t undermine progress within the U.S. and China’s relationship, including that his blunt statements relating to China are “simply not one thing I’m going to alter very a lot.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
