WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinker said on Wednesday that China’s “repressive” crackdown on protests against Covid lockdowns showed the “weakness” of communist leaders.
Blinken, in an interview with NBC News, said people in all countries have the right to “express their frustration” through peaceful protest.
“In any country where we see this happening and then we see the government take massive repressive action to stop it, that’s not a sign of strength, it’s a sign of weakness,” he said. Blinken, who was in Romania for NATO meetings.
Blinken, who plans to visit China next year amid easing tensions between the United States and China, declined to comment on whether the protests affect President Xi’s personal standing. Jinping.
Blinken said China’s zero Covid policy, the initial trigger for the protests, was “not something we would do”, adding that the United States has instead focused on vaccines, testing and treatment.
“China needs to find a way forward to deal with Covid, a way forward that meets health needs but also meets people’s needs,” Blinken said.
The protests, however, have turned into broader calls for political freedoms in the most widespread demonstrations in China since 1989, when communist leaders sent troops to crush a student-led democracy movement in Tiananmen Square.
Blinken was asked about the situation in China after a quiet initial reaction from the US administration, with the White House saying President Joe Biden was monitoring the protests.
Biden met Xi in November in Bali, where the two presidents promised to seek ways to bring tensions between the two powers under control.
Blinken, in an interview with NBC News, said people in all countries have the right to “express their frustration” through peaceful protest.
“In any country where we see this happening and then we see the government take massive repressive action to stop it, that’s not a sign of strength, it’s a sign of weakness,” he said. Blinken, who was in Romania for NATO meetings.
Blinken, who plans to visit China next year amid easing tensions between the United States and China, declined to comment on whether the protests affect President Xi’s personal standing. Jinping.
Blinken said China’s zero Covid policy, the initial trigger for the protests, was “not something we would do”, adding that the United States has instead focused on vaccines, testing and treatment.
“China needs to find a way forward to deal with Covid, a way forward that meets health needs but also meets people’s needs,” Blinken said.
The protests, however, have turned into broader calls for political freedoms in the most widespread demonstrations in China since 1989, when communist leaders sent troops to crush a student-led democracy movement in Tiananmen Square.
Blinken was asked about the situation in China after a quiet initial reaction from the US administration, with the White House saying President Joe Biden was monitoring the protests.
Biden met Xi in November in Bali, where the two presidents promised to seek ways to bring tensions between the two powers under control.
