Beijing accuses Blinken of "smearing China" in speech

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China's Foreign Ministry accused US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of "smearing" the nation on Friday, following his speech asking for steps to counteract Beijing's influence.

At a routine news briefing, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Blinken's speech "spreads false information, exaggerates the China threat, interferes in China's internal affairs, and smears China's domestic and foreign policies."

In recent days, the US and Western allies have issued a chorus of warnings about China's expanding influence and global ambitions.

Blinken warned of China's "intent to reshape the international order" in a broad address on Thursday, calling for global order defense.

He also accused Beijing of inflaming tensions over Taiwan and said that Beijing had "cut off Taiwan's relations with countries around the world and blocking it from participating in international organizations."

Blinken's remarks, Wang said on Friday, demonstrated Washington's desire to "contain and suppress China's development and maintain US hegemony and power."

China has accused Washington of colluding with Taipei, stressing that certain individuals deliberately drew a parallel between Taiwan and Ukraine "despite the two being fundamentally different issues."

The West, mainly the US and the UK, have pledged to arm Taiwan as they have been doing with Ukraine.

China has come out with a statement of condemnation toward the vows. Beijing stressed that sending weapons to Taiwan supports separatism and contradicts their recognition of China, slamming their pledge as "playing with fire."