Ticking Time Bomb
White House official has shed light on US President Joe Biden’s statement referring to China as a “ticking time bomb.” The comment pertains to internal economic and social tensions within China. It could impact its interactions with the global community.
During a political fundraiser, Biden remarked that China was facing challenges, both economic and social. He expressed concern that these issues could lead to unfavorable behavior. Biden said, “That’s not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things.”
Biden went on to characterize China as a “ticking time bomb.” He also mentioned China’s growth rate, stating, “China was growing at 8 percent a year to maintain growth. Now, close to 2 percent a year.” However, his statement misstated the actual growth rate of the country.
Furthermore, the Chinese economy experienced growth of 4.5 percent in the first quarter and 6.3 percent in the second quarter. The gross domestic product (GDP) saw a modest increase of just 0.8 percent in the April-June period compared to the previous quarter, following a 2.2 percent expansion in the first quarter.
In response to Biden’s comments, the White House spokesperson addressed concerns about China’s behavior on the global stage. He highlighted the issue of China’s tactics of coercion and intimidation. It includes high-interest infrastructure loans to other countries and then seizing assets in cases of default.
China’s reaction to Biden’s statements has been strong. Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu warned Washington against “scapegoating” Beijing and fanning “division and confrontation”.
