The US military criticizes Chinese military aircraft flying over the South China Sea

Biden’s National Security Adviser outlines Washington’s strategy to confront China

Jake Sullivan, the US president's national security advisor, underscored the resolve the Biden administration is showing toward China.

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Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to US President Joe Biden, declared that the United States must reform its democracy to better confront China and make it "pay the consequences" of its "aggressive" behavior, defining his strategy in the face of the rival force.

This comes in conjunction with the US military's criticism of Chinese military aircraft flying over the South China Sea.

In detail, Sullivan’s statements confirmed the firmness shown by the new US administration so far. He even indicated “continuity” in some aspects with the approach of the previous administration.

During a discussion with his predecessor Robert O'Brien, an advisor to the former Republican president, organized by the United States Institute of Peace, Sullivan said, "China is trying to show that the Chinese model is better than the American model," relying on "imbalances and divisions in the United States."

And he considered that the first of the four pillars of US policy should be "reforming the basic pillars of our democracy", whether it is related to "the democratic system itself" or to "racial and economic inequalities."

"The second step is to acknowledge that we will be more effective" by working "hand in hand with our democratic allies," Sullivan added.

He pointed out that the United States, with its allies in Europe and Asia, represented "much more than half of the global economy," which would give it "the necessary weight to achieve results and defend a number of principles in the face of China's aggression."

Sullivan praised the Trump administration’s initiative to relaunch the Quartet, a strategic alliance that brings together the United States, Australia, India and Japan to counter Chinese influence in the region.

"We really want to preserve and develop this structure," he stressed, raising the satisfaction of the former Trump advisor, who welcomed the "good start" of Biden's team with regard to the Chinese file.

The third point Sullivan made was centered around winning the competition represented by "future technologies", stressing that "this requires working closely with our allies and partners, and at the same time making ambitious and bold public investments here in the United States."

As for the "last pillar", according to Biden's advisor, it must also be "willingness to make China pay for the consequences of what it does in Xinjiang", where Washington accuses it of committing "genocide" against Uyghur Muslims, and "what it is doing in Hong Kong" where it recanted from the ruling. The broad autonomy accorded to this region, and “for its aggressive behavior and the threats it poses to Taiwan.

Relatedly, the US military said on Friday that Chinese military aircraft that flew over the South China Sea last week did not pose any threat "at any time" to a group of US aircraft carriers in the region, but described them as an example of instability and Beijing's hostile approach.

The US Army Pacific Command stated, in a statement, that "the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt attack group closely monitored the activity of the Navy and Air Force of the People's Liberation Army, and did not pose any threat at any time to the ships, aircraft and sailors of the US Navy."

A US official, who asked not to be named, said that the Chinese aircraft remained at a distance of no less than 250 nautical miles from US ships.

The maritime region has become a focus of tension in US-Chinese relations, and Washington has repeatedly accused China of imposing a military character on the South China Sea and seeking to terrorize neighboring Asian countries that may wish to benefit from its oil and gas wealth.

On the other hand, China has repeatedly expressed its anger at the US military activity in the region, and said on Monday that such moves are not constructive for regional peace and stability.

• Sullivan praised the Trump administration’s initiative to relaunch the "Quartet".

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