While on the campaign trail in May 2019, presidential candidate Joe Biden dismissed the idea that China was a legitimate economic competitor.
“China’s going to eat our lunch?” Biden asked during a stop in Iowa. “C’mon man! They’re not bad folks, folks. But guess what? They’re not competition for us.” He argued that China had too many internal issues to deal with to be considered a threat.
At the time Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) made what turned out to be a good prediction.
This will not age well. https://t.co/IJ8vkPJ5SV
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 1, 2019
Well, President Biden had a lengthy call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday night, and it seemed like things have indeed changed. He now admits that China is making progress in terms of transportation.
In a message about his call with President Xi, Biden insists he aggressively confronted him about China’s policies.
“Last night I was on the phone with for two straight hours with Xi Jinping,” the president said. “It was a good conversation, I know him well, we spent a lot of time together over the years I was vice president, but if we don’t get moving, they’re going to eat our lunch. They have major, major new initiatives on rail, they already have rail that goes 325 miles per hour with ease. They are working very hard to do what I think we’re gonna have to do.”
President Biden on China: "Last night I was on the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping…if we don't get moving they're going to eat our lunch." pic.twitter.com/Slog8wdyyr
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 11, 2021
Journalists spotted the difference.
“Candidate Joe Biden (May 2, 2019, Iowa City): “China is going to eat our lunch? C’mon, man!” President Joe Biden (Feb. 11, 2021, Oval Office): ‘If we’re don’t get moving, they’re going to eat our lunch.'” wrote Matt Viser.
“President Biden today on his call with Xi Jinping last night: ‘If we don’t get moving, they’re going to eat our lunch.’ Candidate Biden in 2019: ‘China is going to eat our lunch? C’mon man… They’re not bad folks, folks… They’re not competition for us.”‘ added Jerry Dunleavy.
This is an excerpt from Townhall.
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