Ambassador Pick Emphasizes US Strengths In Countering China

China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday lashed out at Nicholas Burns, President Joe Biden's nominee to be the next US ambassador to Beijing, for his sharp criticism of the Communist giant's hardline policies over Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and Taiwan, saying he should not underestimate China's strong resolve to defend its rights.

Mr Burns took a tough stand on America's ties with China during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee's confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Burns said the US was right to continue its "one-China policy" but that Washington was also right to oppose China's unilateral actions that undermine the status quo and undermine the stability of the region.

Reacting to his comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said, "We advise Burns to be keenly aware of the overall trend of world development and people's aspiration, learn the real situations of China objectively, view China and China-US ties in a rational manner and avoid underestimating the strong resolve, determination and capability of the Chinese people to defend their rights."