Anthony Blinken: 'Our Purpose Is Not to Contain China'

May 04, 2021

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told Norah O’Donnell of CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday evening that the goal of the Biden administration was not to “contain” China, but to protect a “rules-based order” in international relations.

Our purpose is not to contain China, to hold it back, to keep it down.

It is to uphold this rules-based order that China is posing a challenge to.

O’Donnell: I know you say the goal is not to contain China, but have you ever seen China be so assertive or aggressive militarily.

Blinken: I think that over time, China believes that it can be and should be and will be the dominant country in the world.

Blinken’s approach implies that unlike its predecessor, the Biden administration appears to see America’s role as shaping China into a more responsible superpower, once it overtakes the U.S., rather than challenging China’s rise or restraining its ambitions.

and China since President Joe Biden took office.