China the top challenge in US history, top diplomat says

A U.S. P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane flies near Chinese structures and buildings on the man-made Fiery Cross Reef at the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea are seen on March 20, 2022. (AP photo)

China presents the top challenge to the United States in all of its history, surpassing the Cold War, a top U.S. official said Wednesday, as he urged Europe to get tougher on Beijing.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, a key architect of a 15-year push for the United States to reorient its foreign policy toward Asia, also urged greater U.S. investment in advanced technology to compete better with China.

"There is a recognition that this is the most significant challenge in our history," Campbell told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"Frankly, the Cold War pales in comparison to the multifaceted challenges that China presents," he said.

"It's not just a military challenge; it's across the board. It is in the Global South. It is in technology. We need to step up our game across the board."

President Joe Biden's administration has been pressing China about technology exports to Russia that U.S. officials say have allowed Moscow to ramp up military production for its war in Ukraine.

"The challenge is, we've got to get more support here on this," Campbell said of U.S. sanctions on Chinese firms, an issue he said he has been raising on visits to Europe.

Campbell said that most of Washington's European allies shared concerns on China's ties with Moscow but were still reeling from the "huge shock" of slashing energy imports from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

"For many of these countries, doing business with China has been a big deal for 15 or 20 years," he said.

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