Beijing and Washington can achieve “many great things” if they work together ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month, China’s foreign minister said Tuesday.
But top diplomat Wang Yi also warned against “crude interference” by the US on the Taiwan issue.
The world’s two largest economies have butted heads in recent years on issues ranging from trade and technology to human rights and China’s growing aggression toward the self-governing island of Taiwan.
China’s policy toward the United States “has not changed” during a speech in Beijing on Tuesday, Wang said, reflecting the country’s diplomatic work over the past year and its expectations for the future.
He said the cooperation in economic working groups and cross-border drug control “absolutely proves that as long as China and the US cooperate, we can achieve many great things”.
However, he reiterated a warning on Taiwan, saying Beijing strongly opposes “illegal and unreasonable pressure from the United States, especially its crude interference in China’s internal affairs,” which includes the autonomous island. The status is also included.
“We must make a strong and firm response, resolutely defend our legitimate rights and interests, and safeguard the fundamental principles of international relations,” Wang said.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it will never back down from using force to one day seize it, while the US has a long history of providing Taiwan with resources to defend itself. There is an arrangement.
Taiwanese officials said last week that China had conducted its largest naval exercises in years around the island, deploying about 90 warships from near Japan’s southern islands to the South China Sea and patrolling foreign ships and waterways. simulated attacks on blockades.
Beijing has never confirmed the drills, but a defense ministry spokesman said “whether we will conduct drills, and when we will conduct them, we alone decide”.
Sino-US relations could worsen after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, with the president-elect promising to impose more tariffs on what he says are unfair trade practices by China – which Beijing strongly opposes. Denies.
Wang said Beijing hopes the Trump administration will “make the right choice, work in the same direction with China, eliminate barriers, remove barriers, and build a stable, healthy and sustainable bilateral relationship.” Will strive for development”.
‘Commotion and Change’
But Wang also used his speech to paint a deeper picture of an increasingly conflict-ridden world.
“The global landscape is marked by interconnected upheavals and transitions, with geopolitical conflicts dragging on and escalating, and decoupling and supply chain disruptions becoming increasingly acute,” he said. “
He added that in the context of global chaos and conflict, China will remain a force for peace.
Wang highlighted Beijing’s diplomatic work over the past year, including its mediation in July of a “national unity” agreement between Palestinian factions including Hamas and Fatah to govern Gaza together after the end of the conflict. .
Regarding Syria, where rebels led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad this month, Wang said China would “stand by the Syrian people (and) uphold the principles of Syrian leadership and ownership.” will maintain”.
“(We) oppose the terrorist forces that take advantage of the situation to spread chaos, and help preserve the sovereignty and stability of Syria,” he added.
Wang also said China would maintain a “high level of strategic mutual trust” with Russia, despite widespread criticism from the West that Beijing has given Moscow diplomatic and economic cover to wage a war of aggression in Ukraine. has provided