Joe Biden’s tough talk leaves the US exposed to the dual threat of China and Russia

Editorial: Biden’s confrontational stance will push the Chinese and the Russians back into each other’s arms, conniving to defy and thwart America, Japan, Europe and the other major Western allies

President Joe Biden has made plain that American policy is driven by American interests (AP)

No sooner has Joe Biden finished offending the Russians by labelling Vladimir Putin a “killer” than his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, offends the Chinese.

At a ceremonial opening session at the Sino-American summit in Anchorage, Alaska, Mr Blinken subjected the Chinese delegation to a devastating barrage. Accusations of human rights abuses and other serious complaints rained down on the unsuspecting diplomats.

Mr Blinken, oblivious to Chinese pride, informed his interlocutors: “We will ... discuss our deep concerns with actions by China, including in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyberattacks on the United States, and economic coercion of our allies. Each of these actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability.”