Former Vice President Joe Biden dismissed China as a potential threat to the United States during a Wednesday campaign event in Iowa, stating that China “isn’t in competition for us.”
“China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man,” Biden said at the event in Iowa City, adding that “they’re not competition for us.”
“They can’t even figure out how to deal with the fact that they have this great division between the China Sea and the mountains in the east, I mean in the west,” Biden argued. “They can’t figure out how they are going to deal with the corruption that exists within the system. I mean, you know, they’re not bad folks, folks. But guess what, they’re not competition for us.”
WATCH:
Biden’s position on China puts him at direct odds with President Donald Trump, who was repeatedly warned that China is taking advantage of the United States with its tariff policy. Trump has spent a significant portion of his presidency attempting to negotiate a trade deal with the global superpower that more greatly benefits U.S. workers, all while threatening China with heftier tariffs. (RELATED: China’s Economy Hits A Low Not Seen Since 1990 Amid Tariff Fight With Trump)
At the same time, the United States and its allies have accused China of stealing trade secrets and technology from countries around the world.
“China’s goal, simply put, is to replace the U.S. as the world’s leading superpower, and they’re using illegal methods to get there,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in December.
UPDATE (7:22 pm):
This article has been updated with video of Biden’s remarks and additional quotes.