Richard Haass: ‘China Cannot Be Held Responsible for Our Lack of Testing’ or Shortage of Ventilators

‘This administration has had a bizarre almost schizophrenic relationship approach to China since the get-go’

EXCERPT:

HAASS: "Look, China does deserve criticism, not so much because it began there, it could have begun anywhere, but because of the cover-up and their initial response. But China cannot be held responsible for our lack of testing or our shortage of ventilators or anything else. We’ve got to deal with that ourselves. This also, though, takes place in a larger context. This administration has had a bizarre, almost schizophrenic relationship approach to China since the get-go. On one hand we’ve painted them as a strategic rival. We’ve been incredibly critical. On the other hand, as as recently as today, the President has this friendly conversation with President Xi. We did the first phase of a trade deal. It’s both ways. They want to blame China, and at the same time they want to maintain something of a relationship with China, and certainly with its leader."

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