The Chinese head of state turned unusually openly against the United States.
(Photo: IMAGO/Xinhua)
Beijing With unusually direct words, China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping accused the US and the West of trying to slow down his country’s rise in the world.
On the fringes of the current annual session of the People’s Congress in Beijing, the president said, according to the state media on Tuesday, that the environment for China’s development has “changed dramatically” and that uncertainties have increased sharply. “Western countries in particular, led by the US, are pursuing all-out containment, encirclement and suppression of China, posing unprecedented severe challenges for China’s development.”
At the same time, China is facing multiple difficulties, said Xi Jinping, citing repeated Covid-19 outbreaks and increasing pressure on the second-largest economy as examples. His outspoken criticism contrasted with previous statements in which China’s leaders had mostly spoken vaguely of “certain countries” without directly naming the United States or the West. The comments came during discussions with delegates to the Consultative Conference, an advisory body of distinguished figures that meets in parallel with the People’s Congress.
China’s foreign minister advises the EU to cooperate less with the US
China hopes that Europeans will gain more independence from the United States. At a press conference on the occasion of the ongoing annual session of the People’s Congress in Beijing on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Qin Gang courted the European Union, which always sees China as a “comprehensive strategic partner”.
“We hope that Europe, which has endured the suffering of the war in Ukraine, will learn from its pain and achieve genuine strategic autonomy and long-term stability,” Qin Gang said. In doing so, he indirectly expressed his desire for the Europeans to distance themselves from the Americans, who accuse China of dominance.
China wants to work with the European side “to adhere to true multilateralism, mutual respect and cooperation for the benefit of both”. By strengthening the China-EU partnership, the world can be injected with more stability, certainty and positive energy.
China’s foreign minister recommends that Europeans turn more to China.
(Photo: Bloomberg)
In view of the increasing tensions in relations, he warned the USA of the danger of a confrontational course. The US government is more focused on suppressing and containing China than on fair or rules-based competition.
If she does not change this wrong course towards China, there will be “conflicts and confrontations”.
China: US perception is distorted
“The United States’ perception and views of China are seriously distorted,” Qin said. “They see China as their main rival and as the greatest geopolitical challenge.” The US government claims that it is establishing guard rails for relations with China and is not seeking conflict.
But in practice, this means that China should not respond with words or actions when slandered or attacked. “It’s just impossible,” he said. “Unless America hits the brakes and continues down the wrong path, no amount of guard rails can prevent a derailment that will lead to conflict and confrontation, and who will suffer the catastrophic consequences?”
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