China should give up ‘illusion’ of avoiding US rivalry, Beijing think tank says

Name: US President Joe Biden says US military will defend Taiwan if attacked
Uploaded: 2022-06-01T10:30:15.000Z
Duration: 3 min 9 s
Description: US President Joe Biden says US military will defend Taiwan if attacked

Ukraine war fallout has heightened risks of all out US-China military confrontation, Renmin University think tank warns

China should prepare for the worst, but seek bilateral cooperation to avoid it, institute urges in recent report

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The US has stepped up its strategy to “contain China” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Chongyang Institute for Finance Studies at Renmin University said. Photo: AFP

Teddy Ng

Published: 6:30pm, 1 Jun 2022Updated: 8:14pm, 1 Jun 2022

China should give up the “illusion” of avoiding competition with the United States, and even be prepared for the worst-case scenario of possible military conflict, a Chinese think tank has advised, while also urging Beijing to seek ways to reduce tensions.

The Chongyang Institute for Finance Studies at Renmin University said the war in Ukraine had intensified US worries about and strategy against China, heightening the risk of an “all out” confrontation between the two major powers.

“To respond to US President Joe Biden’s all-out competitive offensive, China should give up its illusions, and make every effort to guard against the possibility of a final showdown of high-intensity military confrontation,” the institute said in a report released on Sunday.

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US President Joe Biden says US military will defend Taiwan if attacked

However, while adapting to the spike in bilateral tensions, China should also take the initiative to shape ties with the US and seek “the possibility of cooperation between the two nations”, the report urged.

It noted that the US had stepped up its strategy to “contain China” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February, moving to strengthen ties with regional allies and selling arms to Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province that can be taken by force.

“The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exacerbated the strategic anxiety of the United States towards China. The United States has begun to accelerate the build-up of comprehensive strategic competition with China,” it pointed out.

The report was released as the Biden administration outlined its Indo-Pacific strategy, including the launch of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) covering supply chains, digital trade, clean energy and anti-corruption efforts. The initiative, launched by Biden in Japan last month with 12 Asian member states, is viewed with much suspicion by Beijing.

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