US will lead the world again
Vows Biden’s pick for top diplomat, promises to restore core alliances; Pompeo declares China committing ‘genocide’ against Uighurs
Antony Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden's choice to be secretary of state, was to vow yesterday that the United States will "outcompete" a rising China while reviving frayed alliances, in a sea change from Donald Trump's go-it-alone "America First" approach.
On the eve of Biden's inauguration, Blinken was set to say at his confirmation hearing that the United States will seek to remain the pre-eminent global power but renew cooperation on common challenges such as Covid-19 and climate change.
"America at its best still has a greater ability than any country on earth to mobilize others for the greater good," Blinken, a mild-mannered longtime aide to Biden, was to tell the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to his prepared remarks.
"We can outcompete China -- and remind the world that a government of the people, by the people, can deliver for its people," Blinken said, paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln's paean to democracy two weeks after a mob of Trump supporters ransacked the Capitol in hopes of overturning Biden's victory.
Blinken, 58, is expected to win Senate confirmation.
In a sharp shift in tone from Trump's secretary of state Mike Pompeo -- who spoke of "swagger," "American exceptionalism" and global conflict with China -- Blinken said he would show "humility."
"Not one of the big challenges we face can be met by one country acting alone -- even one as powerful as the US," Blinken said.
"We can revitalize our core alliances –- force multipliers of our influence around the world. Together, we are far better positioned to counter threats posed by Russia, Iran, and North Korea and to stand up for democracy and human rights."
In its final days, the Trump administration has taken a slew of major decisions seen as attempting to box in the next team.
But in one that could be welcomed by Biden, Pompeo yesterday formally determined that China was carrying out genocide against the Uighurs and other mostly Muslim peoples -- meaning Blinken can stand by the decision without the same fallout from Beijing as if he issued the statement himself.