US to Give ‘Strong, Vigorous Response' to China's Actions

US-China relations have been in a downward spiral since President Donald Trump started a trade war between the two countries. Apart from the trade dispute, Washington and Beijing disagree on an array of issues, such as the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, alleged intellectual property theft, and the Belt and Road initiative.

"…China has taken actions that have provided risk to the American people, whether that's a risk through the stealing of intellectual property, or trade rules that are unfair, or activity in the South China Sea or their continued expansion in space […]. Each of those actions has been met with a strong and vigorous response from the United States of America, and will continue to do so," Pompeo said, Sputnik reported.

Pompeo also lamented the alleged practice of Chinese state-run companies to "bribe senior leaders" in other countries to receive contracts for lucrative infrastructure projects. He claimed that such contracts would bring no good to the citizens of the countries and that they pose a risk to US interests.

Earlier, Mike Pompeo, during a visit to Panama, leveled criticism against Chinese investments in Latin American states, calling them "not transparent, clearly not market-driven and predatory." He also suggested that governments should have their "eyes wide open" when dealing with China.

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