By Maya Kaneko,
China's top diplomat Wang Yi criticized the United States on Thursday, saying Washington continues to have a "wrong perception" of the Asian country and employs measures to suppress Beijing's development through trade restrictions despite recent improvement of bilateral ties.
Although U.S. President Joe Biden sought to assure his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that Washington does not seek to suppress or contain China's development during their talks near San Francisco last November, commitments made by the United States at the summit "have not been truly fulfilled," Wang told a packed press conference.
"If it only wants itself to prosper but denies other countries' legitimate development, where is international fairness?" Wang asked at the press conference on the sidelines of this year's session of the National People's Congress.
The top diplomat said the United States should take "an objective and rational view" of China, adding that Beijing upholds peaceful coexistence with Washington as a principle, and warned the country will "eventually harm itself" if it is obsessed with suppressing China.
Wang was referring to U.S.-led efforts to tighten restrictions on Beijing's access to cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors.
On Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory, he emphasized that the self-ruled island "will never be allowed to split from the motherland" and warned against providing any international assistance to those seeking "Taiwan independence," saying supporters will "get burned for playing with fire and taste the bitter fruit of their own doing."
Wang said separatist behavior is "the most destructive factor" for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and dismissed the victory of Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing views as an independence advocate, in the island's January presidential election, saying the poll results will not change the historical trend of unification.
Taiwan and Communist-ruled China have been governed separately since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. Beijing regards the island as a renegade province to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
As for tensions in the South China Sea, where Beijing's sweeping territorial claims overlap with those of neighboring countries, Wang said differences should be "properly managed and resolved through dialogue" between the nations directly involved.
He stressed that China will respond to unwarranted provocations with legitimate countermeasures in the South China Sea and advised countries outside of the region "not to stir up trouble," in a veiled reference to the United States. His comments came after the latest clash between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the waters earlier this week.
Wang also expressed concern over recent flare-ups of tension on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea boosting its war preparedness amid U.S.-South Korea joint drills, calling for dialogue between all parties and the promotion of a political settlement.
The top diplomat warned that anyone undermining peace and stability on the peninsula will "pay a heavy price," in reference to the United States. Meanwhile, Wang said China will seek deeper and more substantial trilateral cooperation with its neighbors Japan and South Korea.
Wang said Beijing will continue to deepen strategic cooperation with Russia, adding that Sino-Russian relations are "of great value" in maintaining global stability.
The two countries have been strengthening ties in a move to jointly oppose the U.S.-led international order. China is against Western sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war.
The top Chinese diplomat also expressed his eagerness to boost cooperation with the European Union, arguing "autonomy" is a key value, in a bid to prevent it from being part of a U.S.-led bloc.
He announced that China will adopt a new unilateral visa-free policy for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg on a trial basis, starting March 14.
Despite touching on a wide range of topics during the press conference, Wang did not mention Sino-Japanese ties, which have deteriorated recently due to the release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea and Beijing's detention of Japanese nationals over allegations of espionage.
Related coverage:
U.S., China agree to hold follow-up talks on North Korea, Middle East
China's top diplomat warns U.S. against Taiwan independence
