Blinken Defends Use of Sanctions Against China

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on May 21 defended the U.S. government's use of sanctions against China, saying the Biden administration resorts to punitive measures only when diplomatic efforts fail to achieve the desired result.

“We always try -- and as a diplomat I always try -- to engage our partners or adversaries diplomatically, quietly to see if we can get the result,” Blinken testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “If we don’t, then we have to use every means at our disposal.”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., argued that the administration’s frequent use of sanctions and public scoldings against China and its new plan to increase tariffs on many of the country's products (see 2405140008) put Beijing on the defensive and are unlikely to change its behavior. He said the administration should focus less on punishing China and more on offering to remove sanctions if China’s behavior improves.

“Everybody wants to use the stick; nobody’s really considering that there’s a carrot,” Paul said. “If I ask you to tell me what has China done to change its behavior, based on your sanctions, … I would say you can’t come up with anything.”

Blinken insisted the administration gives China plenty of opportunity to improve its behavior. “By definition, if they don’t engage in the conduct that we object to, then we’re not going to be using those tariffs or using those sanctions,” he said.

Under questioning from Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, the committee’s ranking member, Blinken testified that China, unlike Iran and North Korea, hasn't delivered weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine but has provided “overwhelming support” to Russia’s defense industrial base, including machine tools and microelectronics. In response, the U.S. has sanctioned more than 100 Chinese entities and is coordinating its efforts with allies.

When Blinken discusses the transfers to Russia with Chinese officials, “their position is that they’re engaged in perfectly normal, legal trade,” he said.

Under questioning from Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Blinken said he will look into why the administration has yet to deliver a comprehensive China strategy to Congress as required by the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Romney said the report was due in July 2023.

Turning to the International Criminal Court’s threat to arrest two Israeli leaders, Blinken said the administration is willing to consider legislation that would sanction the court for its "wrongheaded" decision.

“In short, let’s look at it,” Blinken testified in response to questioning from Risch. “We want to work with you on a bipartisan basis to find an appropriate response. I’m committed to doing that. As you said, the devil’s in the details, so let’s see what you got, and we can take it from there.”

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced May 20 that he will seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three Hamas leaders, for their conduct in the Gaza war.

The ICC’s decision has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats and Republicans, as well as the White House. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Congress will review “all options,” including sanctions, to punish the court. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he “will feverishly work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both chambers to levy damning sanctions against the ICC.”