US defense secretary warns Europe of growing threats from China, Russia

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has warned European nations to tackle what he called growing security and economic threats from China and Russia, the latest sign that Washington has shifted its main focus from the US wars in the Middle East to confronting Beijing and Moscow.

“It is increasingly clear that Russia and China want to disrupt the international order by gaining a veto over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions,” Esper said Friday at the Royal United Services Institute, a think tank in London.

“The United States is facing this challenge head-on, but if we are to preserve the world all of us have created together through decades of shared sacrifice, we must all rise to the occasion,” the new Pentagon chief said, his first major speech.

His comments are largely in line with his predecessors and the latest sign of America’s shifting priorities after more than a decade and a half of waging wars in the Middle East.

Esper accused China of using its economic power and stealing technology to gain greater global influence.

"The more dependent a country becomes on Chinese investment and trade, the more susceptible they are to coercion and retribution when they act outside of Beijing's wishes," he said.

Esper's claim that China is seeking to expand its international influence has been a common US government assertion since the administration of former President Barack Obama.

“I would caution my friends in Europe – this is not a problem in some distant land that does not affect you,” he added.

There are a growing number of disputes in the US-Chinese relationship, which include an escalating trade war, US sanctions on China’s military, and the US relationship with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.

Donald Trump has imposed 25 percent tariffs on $250 billion worth of imported goods from China. Those US tariffs are now due to rise to 30 percent from October 1.

Another $300 billion of Chinese imports face 15 percent US tariffs, some of which began September 1, with the rest to start December 15.

SS