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Chinese diplomats will continue ‘struggle’ to protect national sovereignty, says foreign vice-minister
- Speaking at party congress, Ma Zhaoxu says there is a ‘rock solid’ determination safeguard the country’s ‘fundamental interests’
- Ma was speaking days after the US said it saw China as a competitor that has the intent and means to reshape the international order
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China’s diplomats will maintain the “spirit of struggle” to defend the country’s sovereignty and keep its development on the right track, the country’s vice-minister for foreign affairs has said.
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Ma Zhaoxu cited the country’s response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August – including suspending cooperation in the fight against climate change – as an example of how Beijing opposes zero sum games and pressure tactics.
“Our determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation is unshakeable and rock-solid,” Ma said.
“China’s diplomacy will continue to carry forward the spirit of struggle, improve the ability to fight, and always stand at the forefront of safeguarding national interests and national dignity”.
Ma was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing Communist Party national congress. A new leadership team will be announced following the conclusion of the once-every-five-year event on Saturday.
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The comments come as Beijing and Washington remain locked in serious confrontation over a wide range of areas.
In a new national security strategy document released last week, the White House labelled China as “the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to advance that objective”.
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