Biden announces Pentagon task force on China, warns Xi on 'assertive actions'

US President Joe Biden has announced a Pentagon task force to chart Washingtons Beijing strategy and followed it up with a stern dialogue with his Chinese counterpart XI Jinping about the Asian giants increasingly assertive actions and served notice that he was committed to an open IndoPacific region according to the White HouseDuring the phone call with Xi on Wednesday Biden was also forthright on human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang and on Beijings trade practices according to an account of their conversation from the White HouseIn a sign of his recognition of the risks from Beijings growing power and assertiveness Biden while on a visit to the Pentagon called for a national and international effort to meet the China challenge and ensure the American people win the competition of the futureWe need to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep the peace and defend our interests in the IndoPacific and globally he saidAt the Pentagon the President also announced the formation of the new task force that will work with a sense of urgency on strategy so that we can chart a strong path forward on Chinarelated mattersIn his speech at the Pentagon Biden said that the task force on China will look at our strategy and operational concepts technology and force posture and so much moreThe task force will work quickly drawing on civilian and military experts across the Defense Department to provide within the next few months recommendations to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on key priorities and decision points so that we can chart a strong path forward on Chinarelated mattersIt will require a wholeofgovernment effort bipartisan cooperation in Congress and strong alliances and partnerships he addedLaying out his overall defence position Biden said that while force should be a tool of last resort I will never hesitate to use force to defend the vital interests of the American people and our allies around the world when necessaryThe central indispensable mission of the Department of Defense is to deter aggression from our enemies and if required to fight and win wars to keep America safeDuring his call with Xi Biden affirmed his priorities of protecting the American peoples security prosperity health and way of life and preserving a free and open IndoPacific the White House said in the statement issued after his Pentagon speechHe underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices crackdown in Hong Kong human rights abuses in Xinjiang and increasingly assertive actions in the region including toward Taiwan it addedAt the same time Biden is committed to pursuing practical resultsoriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies the White House saidThe two leaders also exchanged views on countering the Covid19 pandemic and the shared challenges of global health security climate change and preventing weapons proliferationBidens call with Xi came after discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leaders of key allies in the region Japan Australia and South Korea during which they discussed IndoPacific issuesOn more immediate matters of concern like the war in Afghanistan and the involvement in Iraq from which former President Donald had tried to untangle the US Biden said without naming the countries that I will work with Secretary Austin and leaders around the world to bring a responsible end a responsible end to wars that have dragged on for far too long while continuing to ensure that terrorist threats cannot endanger the security of the American peopleThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever