US ambassador to China nominee takes tough line toward Beijing, cites ‘genocide in Xinjiang’ and need to support Taiwan

US President Joe Biden’s nominee for ambassador to China took a tough line toward the Asian giant at a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, citing its “genocide in Xinjiang” and the need to better support Taiwan and countries such as Australia and Lithuania subjected to “bullying” and “intimidation campaigns”.

Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, career diplomat Nicholas Burns added that China has weaknesses that the United States can use to its advantage, including demographics and the growing global pushback over its behaviour.