Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy pressed National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby about President Joe Biden’s handling of Russia and China’s closely tied relationship.
Doocy asked Kirby why the president “let” Russia and China form a partnership “against the U.S.” at Monday’s White House press briefing.
“Russia and China: It seems like these two superpowers are teaming up now against the U.S. Why did President Biden let this happen?” Doocy asked.
“Peter, these are two countries that have long chafed at U.S. leadership around the world and the network of alliances and partnerships that we have,” Kirby said. “This is not something that these two countries just cooked up since President Biden got elected, it is something that they have been trying to—”
“But, since he’s been president he has talked tough. He has tried to pressure Putin and Xi to act right or risk their standing on the world stage, does he see now that they don’t care?” Doocy interjected.
Kirby emphasized that five of the U.S.’s seven treaty alliances are in the Indo-Pacific and that Biden has “prioritized” the alliances with nations across the globe. He also said the Russians have deteriorated on both a military and economic front since invading Ukraine. (RELATED: ‘Would The President Just Let That Slide?’: Doocy Confront John Kirby On Origins Of COVID)
“I think if you ask a lot of Russians, they certainly care,” Kirby said. “Their economy is barely being propped up by some pretty radical measures by Mr. Putin. Their military has been roundly embarrassed inside Ukraine and they continue to lose ground there,” Kirby said. “As for China, take a look at the way the president has really revitalized and restored alliances and partnerships that were let go, if not ridiculed, in the previous administration. We have prioritized them and there’s no other nation around the world that has this alliance and partnership network that we do.”
Doocy asked Kirby whether he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping “fear” Biden.
“It is not about fear,” Kirby said. “It’s about President Biden advancing our foreign policy goals around the world, it’s about President Biden revitalizing these alliances and partnerships, it’s about President Biden and what he’s doing to preserve our national security interests around the world. That’s what we’re focused on.”
China has formed a strong alliance with Russia in the lead-up to the Ukraine war, alarming U.S. officials and other countries around the world. Xi and Putin met in person Feb. 4, 2022, where they established a “no limits” partnership and expressed opposition to expanding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Xi has yet to condemn the war in Ukraine and has attempted to appoint China as neutral on the issue. He previously publicly condemned U.S. opposition to China invading Taiwan in September.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in February that China may decide to aid Russia with “lethal support” to support their effort in taking Ukraine.