China warns the US of the risk of a “conflict”

China accused this Tuesday USA to inflame tensions between the two powers and warned of the risk of a “conflict” and of a “confrontation”.

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.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said 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 occurs, “there will inevitably be conflict and confrontation”, Qin added, when asked at a press conference.

“Who will suffer the catastrophic consequences?” wondered the minister, on the sidelines of the annual session of Parliament.

The day before, President Xi Jinping had lamented the “containment” and the “repression” of the westerners against Chinaciting 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 increased considerably” for China, Xi Jinping declared at the annual legislative session in Beijing, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Monday night.

“Western countries led by the United States have implemented 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 win a third term in this annual parliamentary session.

“In the face of profound and complex changes both internationally and in China, it is convenient to remain calm, focused (…), act proactively, show unity and dare to fight” for the success, Xi said.

“Hysterical Neo-Carthyism”

For his part, the Chinese foreign minister defended that relations between Washington and Beijing should be based on “common interest” and “friendship” and not in “American domestic politics and this kind of hysterical neo-Maccartismo”, in reference to the witch hunt against communism undertaken 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.

At a press conference, the minister pointed out that China will not accept nor “the sanctions” neither “the threats” of the United States and its allies.

In February, Beijing released a twelve-point document proposing a political solution to the conflict in which it asked to respect the territorial integrity of all countries and urged dialogue between both sides.

Qin Gang claimed that China was not “Neither at the origin nor was it part of the crisis and it has not supplied weapons to any of the parties”while calling for peace negotiations “as soon as possible”.

The relationship between Beijing and Moscow does not constitute any “threat to any country in the world”he stressed.

Source: AFP