Advertisement

China takes swipes at the US but also makes ‘direct appeal’ for cooperation

  • Foreign Minister Wang Yi sends message to US, the world and domestic audience that China ‘is very strong’ during press briefing, analyst says
  • The two powers are expected to continue keeping tensions in check, even with possible ‘complications’ brought by this year’s US elections

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
35
The top Chinese diplomat noted “some improvements” in relations with the US but accused Washington of “devising various tactics to suppress China”. Image: Shutterstock
Problems and mistrust still stand in the way of warmer ties between China and the US, analysts said, after stern remarks from Foreign Minister Wang Yi – including that Washington was “obsessed” with suppressing Beijing.
Advertisement
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress, China’s top diplomat noted there had been “some improvements” in relations with the US after a summit between leaders Xi Jinping and Joe Biden last year.

But he said Washington’s “misperception towards China continues and US promises are not truly fulfilled”.

“The US has been devising various tactics to suppress China and kept lengthening its unilateral sanctions list, reaching bewildering levels of unfathomable absurdity.”

Washington has in recent months pushed ahead with technology-related restrictions on China and sanctioned Chinese firms said to have aided Russia’s war in Ukraine.

WATCH LIVE: China's top diplomat Wang Yi meets the press

US curbs on China’s artificial intelligence hopes

In a reference to US curbs on China’s artificial intelligence sector, Wang said “attempts to create a ‘small yard high fence’ in AI would result in mistakes with historical consequences”.

Advertisement