China urges US to 'push' bilateral ties 'back on track' after neglect
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Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang calls on the US to follow a "calm, professional, and pragmatic manner" to bring back Sino-US relations on the right track after "undermining" China's sovereignty.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a news conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China on March 7, 2023 (Reuters)
According to the Chinese state councilor and foreign minister, Qin Gang, the US is to blame for “undermining” the Sino-US relations as he called on Washington to “push” them “back on track.”
During a meeting in Beijing with the US ambassador to China, Qin relayed that bilateral ties with Washington are of “great significance” not only to both nations, “but also to the world,” adding that he sees it “necessary to prevent accidents” between the top two global economies in a “calm, professional, and pragmatic manner.”
"We should promote dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, and mutual benefit." Qin previously warned the US back in March to 'hit the brakes' and dial down its aggressive rhetoric towards China, since if it does not do so, conflict will be inevitable.
In reference to the meeting in November conducted between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Joe Biden in Indonesia, Qin pointed out that the US committed “a series of erroneous words and deeds ... (which) have undermined the hard-won positive momentum” of relations since then."
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He further stated that "[T]the agenda of dialogue and cooperation agreed by the two sides has been disrupted, and the relationship between the two countries has once again hit the ice".
'Meet China halfway'
Chinese state media cited Qin as saying that he considers his main priority “to stabilize Sino-US relations, avoid a downward spiral, and prevent accidents between China and the United States."
The diplomat expressed hope of the US reflecting thoroughly, so as to "meet China halfway, and push China-US relations out of the predicament and back on track.” He did however stress the impossibility of discussing communication on the one hand while suppressing and containing China on the other.
On the topic of Taiwan, he warned the US to “stop undermining China's sovereignty, security, and development interests", saying that both sides “must correctly handle the Taiwan issue".
Speaking to Burns, he urged the US to “stop hollowing out the one-China principle, and stop supporting and condoning ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces".
This comes amid rising regional tensions between the trio - US, China and Taiwan - as the Taiwanese FM warned of a possible war with China in 2027, and especially after its president, Tsai Ing-Wen, paid a visit to US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in April.
Read more: China sees Tsai's US stop 'provocation', US urges no 'overreaction'
China announced last year that it will firmly fight against "Taiwan’s independence" and promote reunification of the island with the mainland.
