China-US relations: Xi knows there will be ‘repercussions’ for human rights violations, Biden says

Biden says he told China’s president the US would speak up against abuses and crackdowns that contravened American values

Secretary of state deems US in a stronger position against China when it works with allies and leads from the front rather than using Trump tactics

Reading Time:3 minutes

President of China, Xi Jinping, left, and US President Joe Biden. Photo: Xinhua/Reuters

Published: 6:00pm, 17 Feb 2021Updated: 10:59am, 18 Feb 2021

US President Joe Biden said there would be “repercussions” for China’s human rights abuses, saying he made the message clear to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in their first phone call.

In a CNN town hall on Tuesday evening, Biden said he stressed to Xi during their two-hour phone conversation last week that the US would continue to assert its role as a voice for human rights on the world stage, including at the United Nations and other international agencies.

“We must speak up for human rights. It’s who we are,” Biden said.

“There will be repercussions for China, and [Xi] knows that,” he said, without giving details. “China is trying very hard to become the world leader and to get that moniker, and to be able to do that, they have to gain the confidence of other countries. And as long as they’re engaged in activity that is contrary to basic human rights, it’s going to be hard for them to do that.”

Analysts say Biden signalled before entering the White House that human rights issues would be a priority in US foreign policy, particularly as former president Donald Trump was criticised for his remarks, including initially describing the Hong Kong protests as “riots” and for reportedly privately endorsing Beijing’s mass internment camps in Xinjiang.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x