Biden is convinced that democracy has become stronger

President Joe Biden said that the U.S. faces serious challenges around the world, but democracies have grown stronger while autocracies have weakened.

In his State of the Union address to Congress, speaking of his foreign policy achievements and challenges, the president took an optimistic and bold tone, focusing on the Chinese Communist Party and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Days after the discovery of a Chinese reconnaissance balloon in U.S. airspace, which led to the cancellation of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s important visit to Beijing, Biden outlined how he sees the relationship with Beijing.

The president said he is open to cooperating with China “when it advances American interests and can benefit the world.”

“But make no mistake about it,” he said. – “As we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will take steps to protect our country, and we have.

Some Republicans condemned Biden for not ordering the shooting down of the balloon earlier in its flight over the country. Perhaps they still want Biden to publicly take a tougher stance on China.

Referring to his previous State of the Union report, which he delivered days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Biden called Putin’s invasion a test for America to stand up for democracy.

“That defense is important to us because it keeps the peace and prevents potential aggressors from opening the season to threaten our security and prosperity,” he said.

Some Republicans are skeptical about giving military aid to Ukraine, but during Biden’s speech, party members in the audience, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, appeared to strongly support the president.

“I have to say that I saw a lot more support from Republicans when he talked about Ukraine, especially in the moment when he said: “We’re in this for as long as it takes,” said Elizabeth Shackleford of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.

“That was something we heard the Republican Party disagree with, saying that Ukraine would not be given a blank check,” she added.

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