Biden: US not anticipating ‘physical conflict’ with China

The US isn’t anticipating an armed conflict with China and believes that this can be avoided, while there are many issues on the solution of which Washington and Beijing need to work together, US President Joe Biden said, speaking in Glasgow at a press conference following the two-day summit of heads of state and government within the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference.

"With regard to the more profound question about am I worried about an armed conflict or some - that accidentally occurring with China: No, I’m not. But I have had, as I’ve said before - and I think we’ve talked about this, Phil, but I may be mistaken - that I think, as I’ve said, I look at China - and I’ve had hours of conversations with Xi Jinping, both in person when I was Vice President and since I’ve been President, at least five or six hours’ worth of conversations on the telephone, and I’m going to be having a virtual summit with him - I’ve made it clear: This does - this is competition; it does not have to be conflict. There is no reason there needs to be conflict,” Biden said.

"But I’ve also indicated to him, and I’ve - so I don’t - I’m not reluctant to say it publicly - that we expect him to play by the rules of the road. We’re not going to change our attitude toward what constitutes international airspace, international sea lanes, et cetera. We also have made it clear that we have to work on dealing with things like cybersecurity and a whole range of other issues. But I - I’m not looking for, I don’t anticipate there will be a need for - to be - there be physical conflict. But, you know, as you’ve heard me say this before - my dad had an expression. He’d say, "The only conflict worse than the one that’s intended is one that’s unintended” - one that’s unintended."

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