BEIJING: The United States (US) should change its “distorted” attitude towards China, or “conflict and confrontation” will follow, China’s foreign minister said on Tuesday while defending its stance on the Ukraine war and its close ties with Russia.
The US had been suppressing and containment of China rather than engaging in rule-based, fair competition, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said at a news conference on the sidelines of a meeting of the parliament in Beijing.
“The United States (US) perception and views of China are seriously distorted,” the Chinese Foreign Minister said.
“It considers China as its primary rival and the most significant geopolitical challenge. This is just like the first button in the shirt being put wrong.”
Relations between the two major powers of the world have been tense for years over several issues, including trade, Taiwan, and, more recently, the war in Ukraine. However, they worsened last month after the US shot down a balloon off its east coast that it says was a Chinese spying aircraft.
US, China relations
Washington says it is establishing guardrails for ties and is not seeking conflict, but Qin said that that meant that China was not supposed to respond with action or words when slandered or attacked.
“That is just impossible,” the Chinese Foreign Minister told his first news conference since assuming charge in December.
“If the US does not apply the brakes and continues to speed down the wrong path, nothing can prevent derailment, which will become a conflict, and who will bear the catastrophic consequences?”
During the news conference in which he answered questions submitted in advance, Qin defended “wolf warrior diplomacy,” an assertive stance adopted by China’s diplomats since 2020.
“When wolves and jackals are blocking the way, and hungry wolves are assaulting us, Chinese diplomats should then dance with the wolves and defend and protect our home and country,” he said.
