Amid rising tensions between the United States and China, US President
Joe Biden has called China “a ticking time bomb”. Addressing a political fundraiser in Utah,
Biden proceeded to misquote data about China’s economy and call it a “threat to the world.”
Due to the ongoing problems faced by China and its economy, the US President stated that
China’s current economic state could cause make them a “danger” to the rest of the globe.

“They have got some problems. That’s not good because when bad folks have problems, they
do bad things,” stated Biden during a fundraiser in Salt Lake City, Utah. Biden added that
China seems to be in toruble due to the Belt and Road initiative.
Biden further called President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative as “debt and a noose”.
However, despite Biden’s strong remarks towards China, the US President misquoted data
related to the Chinese economy.
“China was growing at 8% a year to maintain growth, now close to 2% a year, stated POTUS.
Biden also told donors that China is “in a position where the number of people who are of
retirement age is larger than the number of people of working age.”
Both of these statements are factually incorrect. As per China’s National Bureau of Statistics,
the economy grew by 4.5 percent in the first quarter and 6.3 percent in the second quarter.
Furthermore, Biden’s statement regarding the number of people of working age was off by
hundreds of millions of people.
China’s largest class of students – around 11.6 million – are about to graduate and enter the
working sector. Hence, Biden’s statement on the working age demographic reducing stands
corrected.
Addressing Biden’s remarks in Utah. the White House has stated that the “ticking tome
bomb” statement was consisted to US’ criticism of Beijing.
“We have been very consistent about pushing back on China, in the region and beyond,
rhetorically and tangibly, where and when we believe it’s in our best interest and in the
interest of our allies and partners to do so,” stated US National Security Council
spokesperson John Kirby.
“We’ve never shied away from calling it like we see it when it comes to PRC behavior and

intimidation and coercion, of not only the neighbors, but in countries around the world,