Georgetown University professor, Matthew Kroenig, appeared on ‘FOX & Friends’ to shed light on China’s increasing hacking activities targeting the United States and the potential implications for the future. The US ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, expressed his lack of optimism regarding the future of US-China relations during a recent question and answer session at the Brookings Institution.
Burns acknowledged the need to observe how things develop, despite a productive meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco. He emphasized the importance of sustaining engagement and commitments between the two nations, highlighting his cautious approach due to past instances of China cutting off communications and later reinstating them. While hopeful, Burns clarified that hopefulness differs from optimism.
Earlier at the event, Burns emphasized that China represents the United States’ most significant relationship for the next few decades. As the world’s two leading economies and most powerful militaries, both countries are vying for global and regional power. President Biden’s recent meeting with Xi Jinping in San Francisco further exemplifies the significance of this relationship.
During a separate discussion with the Council on Foreign Relations, Burns acknowledged that US-China relations are not in a favorable state. However, he highlighted the administration’s efforts to reconnect the two governments. Burns also emphasized the bipartisan consensus on the threat posed by China, whose goal is to become the dominant power in the Indo-Pacific region.
In relation to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned visit to Taiwan in 2022, Burns defended her right as a co-equal head of a branch of the US government. However, he acknowledged that the aftermath of the visit caused a significant strain on the US-China relationship. He also noted that following the Chinese spy balloon incident in February, senior-level contacts between the United States and China were limited.
In conclusion, the article highlights the concerns expressed by Professor Kroenig and Ambassador Burns regarding China’s escalating hacking efforts against the United States and the uncertain future of US-China relations. The importance of sustaining engagement and commitments between the two nations is emphasized, given their status as the world’s leading economies and militaries. Bipartisan consensus on the threat posed by China is also highlighted, as well as the impact of controversial visits and incidents on the already strained relationship.
