Cruz Reacts to Psaki: ‘Hard to Be in a Rush to Counter the CCP… When the Biden Admin is Rushing to Crawl Into Bed With Them’

At a press briefing today, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that President Biden is taking a “strategic approach” to China, adding that the administration is “not in a rush.”

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded to the clip of Psaki speaking at the briefing, “Captain Obvious. Hard to be in a rush to counter the CCP…when the Biden admin is rushing to crawl into bed with them.”

“We are working with our partners and allies,” Psaki insisted, and that the administration is “only three weeks in.”

Captain Obvious.

Hard to be in a rush to counter the CCP…when the Biden admin is rushing to crawl into bed with them. https://t.co/2RgfvUqZeM

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 11, 2021

Psaki added that the president is “clear-eyed” about U.S.-China policy and noted that it is “a strategic competition.”

From Fox News:

Psaki’s comments came after Biden, on Wednesday night, had his first phone call with China’s President Xi Jinping since taking office. Senior administration officials said Biden outlined the administration’s “core concerns” with China’s “practices, aggressive activities and abuses,” signaling a “clear and consistent subscription to American values,” while discussing areas in which the administration believes it could be in the United States’ national interest to work with Beijing.

The White House said Biden and Xi “also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation.” 

“President Biden committed to pursuing practical, results oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies,” the White House said. 

Biden tweeted about yesterday’s meeting and said, “I spoke today with President Xi to offer good wishes to the Chinese people for Lunar New Year.”

“I also shared concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, human rights abuses, and coercion of Taiwan. I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people,” Biden stated.

I spoke today with President Xi to offer good wishes to the Chinese people for Lunar New Year. I also shared concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, human rights abuses, and coercion of Taiwan. I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people.

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 11, 2021