US doesn’t want to see conflict with China: Top White House official

Despite acknowledging the security challenges posed by China, John Kirby, the US National Security Council (NSC) coordinator for strategic communications, has said that Washington does not want to see a conflict with Beijing.

“China also continues to change the security environment around the world. Now, as you heard us say, we see China as a strategic rival. We don’t want to see a conflict with China,” national John Kirby said. Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications in an interview with US broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) on 16 December.

The White House official’s comments on China came as the State Department launched a new Office of China Coordination to help manage competition between Washington and Beijing.

“And yet, we must prepare for the security challenges that China presents in the information environment in 2022, including their attempt to achieve a new normal with respect to Taiwan in light of recent activity in Taiwan.” “

On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken presided over the opening of the new Office of China Coordination, informally known as China House. China House will ensure that the US government is able to responsibly manage our competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system.

The statement said that China House brings together a group of Chinese experts from across the State Department to work on security, economic, technical, diplomatic and strategic issues. Better coordination will result in more coherent State Department policy and the US will be better positioned to engage more deeply with allies and partners, the statement said.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said the Biden administration launched China House because the US recognizes the scale and scope and stakes of strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China.

“We launched China House because we recognize that the scale and scope and stakes of strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) require us to think, cooperate and act in new ways. The development of China policy and implementation,” he said.

“The China House is an important part of Secretary Blinken’s modernization agenda, which will help our diplomats meet the challenges of the 21st century,” he said.

Earlier in May, Blinken announced the creation of the China House, calling it a department-wide, integrated team that would coordinate and implement US policy across issues and regions.

“I am determined to give the State Department and our diplomats the tools they need to meet this challenge as part of our modernization agenda. This includes the creation of China House – a department-wide integrated team that coordinates and implements our policy across issues and areas, working with Congress as needed,” he had said.

The text of this story is published from a wire agency feed without any modification.