The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has warned that the US will protect itself against China if its sovereignty is threatened.
Biden made the statement during his State of the Union address at the joint Congress in Washington on Tuesday.
The US president said he is prepared to work with Beijing if its economic and political policies align with those of the American government and those of the entire world.
He, however, added that his country will guard its sovereignty against any aggression from China, according to CNN on Wednesday.
“I am committed to working with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world,” Biden said.
“But make no mistake… if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country.”
Biden’s comments during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night came as tensions between the US and China have risen following the Pentagon’s detection of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the US, which was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean.
The development has forced Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, to cancel a planned trip to China.
Reports say that at this might have dashed hopes of an armistice between Washington and Beijing after Biden’s meeting with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, in November 2022.
