The subtle significance of this lowkey Biden SOTU moment

Biden's comments showed restraint and calm at a time of surging tensions between Washington and Beijing, Zeeshan Aleem writes. [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news [VIEW IN BROWSER]( MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Feb. 8, 2023 THE LATEST [Alternate text] The subtle significance of this lowkey Biden SOTU moment]( by Zeeshan Aleem In last year's State of the Union address, some of President Joe Biden's splashiest remarks centered on what was then Russia's recent and shocking invasion of Ukraine. This year, Biden reserved such remarks for another, more formidable global power: China. Fortunately, Biden's comments showed restraint and calm at a time of surging tensions between Washington and Beijing. And they marked a rejection of pressure to assume a warlike posture just to please China hawks, who have slammed Biden for having opted not to shoot down a Chinese surveillance balloon until it had floated out over the Atlantic Ocean. Biden pledged that the U.S. will take necessary steps to defend itself, but he also said he has "made clear with President Xi that we seek competition, not conflict." This is a preview of Zeeshan Aleem's latest article. [Read their full column here.](For additional in-depth analysis of the State of the Union address, check out our [live blog here](.     TOP STORIES [Alternate text] [STEVE BENEN]( [Why Trump didn't know about Chinese balloons over U.S. soil]( The Pentagon confirmed that Chinese balloons "transited the continental United States at least three times during the prior administration." [Read more.]( [JORDAN RUBIN]( Pomerantz raises key question about feds' role in Trump evading justice]( Mark Pomerantz's new book shines a light on federal prosecutors, too. [Read more.]( [CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS]( [Andrew Tate's violent, misogynistic teachings are seeping into classrooms]( Here's how to counter this growing subculture of violent toxic masculinity. 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