Photo: Wang Zhao Agence France-Presse “The means of pressure on China are constantly renewed and the list of unilateral sanctions constantly lengthened,” lamented the head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, on Thursday.
Katell Abiven – Agence France-Presse and Luna Lin – Agence France-Presse in Beijing
09:16
- Asia
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi denounced U.S. behavior to the press on Thursday and praised the Beijing-Moscow partnership, also calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza a “disgrace to civilization.”
The experienced 70-year-old diplomat castigated the multiple American attempts to exert “pressure” on Beijing and denounced “the desire to blame China under any pretext”, which “has reached an unimaginable level.”
“The means of pressure on China are constantly renewed and the list of unilateral sanctions constantly lengthened,” lamented Wang Yi. “We resolutely oppose any hegemony and intimidation. »
Sino-American tensions are high on several issues: Taiwan, trade, rivalry in new technologies, the struggle for influence in the Asia-Pacific and even human rights.
Wang Yi spoke at the annual session of the Chinese Parliament.
His speech comes at a time when Beijing's growing political influence is raising concerns among Westerners and some of its Asian neighbors.
The leaders of Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN) and Australia warned on Wednesday against actions that “threaten peace” in the South China Sea, after new incidents between China and the Philippines in these disputed waters.
The Philippine coast guard accused their Chinese counterparts of causing collisions with two of their boats on Tuesday, on the sidelines of a resupply mission. Beijing judges that Manila deliberately wanted to provoke an incident.
“On maritime disputes, China has always exercised great restraint,” Wang Yi said on Thursday.
“But of course, we will not allow our goodwill to be abused” and “we will defend our legitimate rights” in the area, he said.
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“Human tragedy”
China claims almost all of the islands in the South China Sea. Other riparian countries (Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei) have competing, sometimes overlapping, claims.
While Washington regularly supports Manila, Wang Yi urged “some countries outside the region not to cause trouble or take sides” and not to be “troublemakers” in this maritime area.< /p>
On Taiwan, he warned that the island's leaders seeking independence for the territory, claimed by China and supported by the United States, will be held accountable to history.
Wang Yi also rejected the idea that Beijing posed a threat to the world order.
“In the face of an unstable and complex international environment, China will resolutely be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world,” he stressed.
Wang Yi thus reaffirmed Beijing's support for the Palestinian cause and once again requested recognition by the UN of a full Palestinian state.
“No excuse can justify the massacre of civilians,” he stressed as the conflict between Israel and Hamas still rages in the Gaza Strip.
“The fact that today, in the 21st century, this humanitarian catastrophe cannot be stopped is a human tragedy, even more so, it is a shame for civilization,” he said. added, reiterating his country's call for a ceasefire.
Conciliatory tone with the EU
Wang Yi also defended his country's good relations with Russia on Thursday, while China is criticized by the West on the Ukrainian issue.
If Beijing calls for respect for the territorial integrity of all countries – including Ukraine – it has never publicly condemned Moscow.
“China and Russia have created a new model for major-power relations, which is completely different from the old Cold War era,” Wang Yi said.
“On the basis of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third countries, we will continue on the path of permanent good-neighborly friendship and deepening our global strategic cooperation” with Moscow, he stressed.
Beijing seeks to position itself as a mediator and neutral party in the war, but its relationship with Moscow has deepened since the start of the conflict.
On the European Union (EU), which displays growing distrust towards China and describes it simultaneously as “a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival”, Wang Yi judged “this triple positioning neither in conformity with the reality nor viable in practice”.
“It’s like a car is at an intersection and the red, yellow, and green lights are all on. Which way to drive ?,” he asked.
“There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and Europe,” underlined Wang Yi, for whom “the common interests of the two parties far outweigh their differences “.