China urges US to Respect China’s Interests, Not to Take Superior Position

Speaking to Chinese state media about his recent meetings with foreign ministers from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea, Wang said that his Asian counterparts believe that China’s development conforms to the long-term interests of all countries in the region and should not be blocked.

He said the Asian diplomats believed that in the post-pandemic period, China and the US should have more regional cooperation, instead of confrontation.

Dismissing the repetitive arguments of competition and confrontation put forward by the US, Wang warned Washington not to presume that it has a final say on global affairs.

He said China would not accept a list of unilateral demands from Washington for negotiations with Beijing, before adding that “the door for dialogue with China is open. But the dialogue should be done on equal basis and with mutual respect.”

“China welcomes cooperation if there is the need, but cooperation needs to take into account each other’s concerns and mutual benefit. It cannot go in the fashion of one side unilaterally raising conditions and making lists,” Wang noted.

China will engage in fair competition if necessary, but the two sides must “refrain from setting obstacles, abusing power, and depriving others of their legitimate right to development,” he said.

Complaining about “gross interference in China’s internal affairs, and unlawful unilateral sanctions imposed on the basis of lies and false information” Wang said that, “If the US continues to confront, China will take it calmly without fear.”

China, he said, would not make compromises or withdraw from the world stage “because there are many developing and small and medium-sized countries behind us.”

China has every right to fight back because it must protect its national sovereignty and integrity, Wang added.

Meanwhile, the top Chinese diplomat warned that “dialogue is better than confrontation, and cooperation is better than confrontation.”

He further urged the US to effectively respond to regional and international demands, collaborate with China to demonstrate what a major power should behave, and work jointly to sustain regional and global security, peace, prosperity, and growth.

The US relations with China grew increasingly tense under the administration of former president Donald Trump. Washington continually clashed with Beijing over trade, the South China Sea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the coronavirus pandemic.

Later, President Joe Biden also backed Trump’s tough approach, pledging that the US would continue to confront what he called China’s “attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance.” Beijing has rejected those charges.