China accused the United States on Tuesday of stoking tensions between the two powers and warned of the risk of a “conflict” and a “confrontation.”
The disputes between Beijing and Washington have multiplied in recent years on issues such as Taiwan, sovereignty in the South China Sea, the imbalance in the trade balance or the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority.
Relations soured again last month after the United States shot down a Chinese balloon allegedly used for espionage purposes, something Beijing denies.
The Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, considered on Tuesday that “if the United States continues to take the wrong path and does not stop, no guardrail can prevent the derailment” of relations between Beijing and Washington.
If that happens, “there will inevitably be conflict and confrontation,” Qin added, when asked at a press conference.
“Who will suffer the catastrophic consequences?” the minister wondered, on the sidelines of the annual session of Parliament.
“We seek strategic competition with China, we do not seek conflict, and nothing in our approach (…) should lead one to think that we want conflict,” White House spokesman John Kirby responded.
Washington also reiterated that there had been “no change” in the US position on Taiwan, a thorny issue between the two countries.
The day before, President Xi Jinping had lamented the “containment” and “repression” of Westerners against China, citing the United States, and urged the private sector to innovate more so that his country is less dependent on foreigners.
Beijing’s ambitions to develop cutting-edge technologies are running into increasing restrictions from Washington and its allies, prompting Chinese companies to redouble their efforts to forgo crucial imports.
“Challenges”
China and the United States are waging a fierce battle over the manufacture of semiconductors, essential electronic components for the operation of smartphones, connected vehicles or military equipment.
In the name of national security, Washington has stepped up sanctions in recent months against Chinese semiconductor makers, which are now unable to source American technology.
“Uncertain and unforeseeable factors have increased considerably” for China, Xi Jinping declared at the annual legislative session in Beijing, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported late Monday.
“Western countries led by the United States have launched a policy of containment, encirclement and repression against China, which have brought unprecedented severe challenges to the development of our country,” added the 69-year-old president, who is due to obtain a third term. in this annual parliamentary session.
“In the face of profound and complex changes both internationally and in China, it is worth staying calm, focused…, acting proactively, showing unity and daring to fight” for success, Xi said.
“Neo-Marchartism”
For his part, the Chinese foreign minister defended that relations between Washington and Beijing should be based on “common interest” and “friendship” and not on “US domestic policy and this kind of hysterical neo-Maccartisism”, referring to the hunting of Witches Against Communism launched in the 1950s in the United States.
Qin, until recently ambassador to Washington, also lamented recent accusations by some Western countries that China intended to supply Russia with weapons for the war in Ukraine without evidence.