U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Says US Trying To Convince China To Behave Normally

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the United States is putting every effort required to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce and respect international law. The statement comes after the US charged 10 Chinese nationals for stealing American aviation technology secrets.

During a radio interview with conservative commentator Laura Ingraham, Pompeo said China’s practice of stealing intellectual property is inappropriate and is not what is expected from a superpower or a leader in the world.

“Stealing another country’s intellectual property, something China’s been engaged in to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars is just something China has to figure out a way to stop,” the U.S. Secretary of State told the Brian Kilmeade Show.

Pompeo said China was probably the biggest national security challenge facing the United States over the long term, and that the present Donald Trump led administration is now pushing back China on all fronts.

“Where the semiconductor piece fits in is it’s part of a mosaic of our strategic effort to push back against this continued Chinese effort,” Pompeo said. “It is a multipronged effort on behalf of all of the United States government, at the president’s direction, to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce and with respect to the rules of international law.”

In line with the efforts, Washington has reportedly restricted exports to Chinese chipmaker Fujian Jianhua as the company poses a significant risk of involvement in activities that threaten national security. The China-based company has been barred from purchasing components, software, and other vital supplies from American companies.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has responded to the allegation accusing the United States of “overstating national security concerns and placing unilateral restrictions on companies.”