BEIJING (AP) — China’s overseas minister informed the U.S. ambassador on Monday that Washington is chargeable for the downturn in relations between the 2 international locations and should “reflect deeply” earlier than ties can return to a wholesome monitor, an official mentioned.
Qin Gang’s feedback comply with a suspension of significant dialogue on a spread of points between the world’s largest economies, more and more at odds over tariffs, makes an attempt by Washington to deprive China of cutting-edge know-how, and China’s claims to self-governing Taiwan and enormous components of the South and East China Seas.
China’s Foreign Ministry quoted Qin as telling Ambassador Nicolas Burns {that a} “series of erroneous words and deeds by the U.S.” since a gathering in November between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese chief Xi Jinping “have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of Sino-U.S. relations.”
“The U.S. side should reflect deeply, meet China halfway, and propel China-U.S. relations out of the difficulties and back on the right track,” Qin was quoted as saying.
The United States ought to “correct its understanding of China and return to rationality,” Qin mentioned, repeating his earlier accusation that the U.S. is making an attempt to suppress and include China. Beijing routinely cites U.S. political and navy help of Taiwan as infringing on its sovereignty.
Qin mentioned ties had “grown icy” and the precedence was to stabilize them “and avoid a downward spiral and unanticipated events.”
The U.S. ought to cease “undermining China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests,” significantly via help of Taiwan’s impartial id, Qin mentioned.
China says Taiwan should come beneath its rule, by drive if crucial, whereas the U.S. says the connection between the edges should be resolved peaceably. U.S. regulation requires it to deal with threats to Taiwan, together with a navy blockade, as a matter of “grave concern,” although it stays ambiguous beneath what situations U.S. forces could possibly be dispatched to defend the island.
Despite the dearth of formal diplomatic relations, the U.S. is Taiwan’s largest provider of navy {hardware} and diplomatic help, even whereas it continues to take care of relations with Beijing. Biden has been seen as going a step additional by repeatedly saying that the U.S. would again Taiwan militarily, and America has been upgrading basing preparations with the Philippines, situated simply south of Taiwan.
U.S.-China navy contacts have been on maintain for years, and China’s prime workers refused to reply a name from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan final 12 months. China retaliated for the go to by staging a naval and air drive blockade of Taiwan and reducing off channels of communication with the U.S. on points from environmental safety to maritime safety.
At a every day briefing Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the assembly between Qin and Burns as ”a traditional diplomatic association.”
In a tweet, Burns mentioned he met with Qin and “discussed challenges in the U.S.-China relationship and the necessity of stabilizing ties and expanding high-level communication.”
Contacts between the edges have been fraught for months since U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken abruptly canceled a Beijing journey aimed toward easing U.S.-China tensions in February. That got here after a big high-altitude Chinese balloon was shot down after it sailed throughout the U.S., drawing Pentagon accusations of spying on delicate navy websites regardless of agency Chinese denials.
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