Beijing (CNN) – China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, warned Tuesday that “war and conflict” with the United States is inevitable if Washington does not change course, delivering a harsh and sweeping rebuke to US policies in his first press conference. his new role.
Qin, who until recently was China’s ambassador to the United States, had a reputation as a diligent and accomplished diplomat.
However, in his first appearance at China’s parliamentary meeting, the foreign minister struck a more belligerent tone, warning of the “disastrous consequences” of what he described as a “reckless gamble” by Washington in dealing with another superpower.
“If the United States does not step in and continues to accelerate down the wrong path, there will be no guard that can prevent the derailment, and there will certainly be conflicts and confrontations,” Qin said on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress in Beijing.
In an elaborate written statement, Qin set the tone for China’s foreign policy for the coming year and beyond, chiding the United States for escalating bilateral tensions and defending Moscow’s close partnership with Beijing.
Relations between the world’s two largest economies are at their worst in decades, and tensions flared last month after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over North America and broke away from the US.
On Tuesday, Qin accused the US of overreacting in response, which he said had created a “diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided”.
The situation, according to Qin, shows that “the United States’ perception and beliefs about China are severely distorted. It considers China its main rival and its greatest geopolitical challenge.”
“The citizens of the United States claim that they are in conflict with China and do not seek conflict. But in reality, the so-called “confrontation” in the US is the ultimate containment and suppression, the ultimate game of life and death.” he said.
“Containment and suppression will not make the United States great, and the United States will not stop the renewal of China,” Qin said.
The competition between the United States and China has intensified in recent years.
Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has become increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad, taking a more aggressive approach to exercising its power and attacking the West.
In the meantime, Washington reflected.
Under the Biden administration, the United States has deepened ties with allies and partners to contain Beijing’s growing power, even in its own backyard.
He has also pushed to disassociate himself from China in emerging technologies, recently exporting chips to avoid angering Beijing.
Qin criticized Vienna for his Indo-Pacific strategy, accusing him of forming exclusive agreements to provoke conflict, advocating disagreements and plotting an “Asia-Pacific version of NATO.”
“The real goal of the Indo-Pacific strategy is to contain China,” Qin said. “There should be no repeat of the Cold War in Asia, and no repeat of the Ukraine-style crisis in Asia.”
China’s refusal to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and its growing partnership with Moscow have further strained its relations with the West. Although Beijing has tried to present itself as a neutral mediator, it also maintains its “rock-solid” ties with Russia.
On Tuesday, Qin said the Sino-Russian relationship “does not pose a threat to any country in the world, nor does it prevent or sow discord in the three parties.”
“The more unstable the world becomes, the more imperative it is for China and Russia to move forward firmly in their relations,” he said.
Qin highlighted the Taiwan issue as “the cornerstone of the foundation of Sino-US political relations and the first red line to be crossed.”
The Chinese Communist Party claims the independent democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, although it has never controlled it, and refuses to use force to “reunify” it with mainland China.
On Tuesday, Qin urged the US “not to interfere in China’s internal affairs” and asked Washington for different answers to the Ukraine and Taiwan issues.
“Why does the US talk about sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Ukraine issue, but not China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Taiwan issue? Why does the US ask China not to give arms to Russia while still selling arms to Taiwan?” Qin said.
