China doesn’t want a trade war with the U.S. but will retaliate against further curbs, ambassador says

China doesn’t desire a commerce struggle with the United States however will retaliate in opposition to any additional U.S. restrictions on know-how and commerce, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. stated.

Ambassador Xie Feng criticized U.S. curbs on the sale of microchips and chipmaking gear to China that have been imposed final yr by the Biden administration. Beijing has described the measure as a part of an effort to “contain” China.

“China does not shy away from competition, but the definition of competition by the U.S. side I think is not fair,” Xie stated Wednesday on the Aspen Security Forum, a safety and overseas coverage convention in Aspen, Colorado. “The United States is trying to win by keeping China out,” he stated, referring to measures to curb U.S. know-how gross sales to Chinese telecommunications big Huawei over safety issues.

“This is like restricting the other side to wear outdated swimwear in a swimming contest while you yourself (are) wearing a Speedo,” he stated.

China earlier this month imposed export curbs on two key metals utilized in laptop chips and photo voltaic cells, a measure extensively seen as retaliation for the U.S. restrictions on microchips. Earlier this yr, Beijing restricted gross sales of merchandise from Micron Inc., the largest U.S. producer of reminiscence chips.

“Definitely it’s not our hope to have a tit for tat,” Xie stated. “We don’t want a trade war, technological war. We want to say goodbye to the Iron Curtain, as well as the Silicon Curtain.”

Xie’s feedback come as Washington and Beijing are attempting to patch up their relationship, which has hit new lows in latest months over a slew of points together with a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over U.S. territory and tensions over commerce, know-how, human rights and China’s declare to Taiwan and far of the South China Sea.

As a part of efforts to fix ties, three high U.S. officers visited Beijing in latest weeks. John Kerry, the U.S. particular envoy on local weather, concluded talks on Wednesday with Chinese officers on methods to fight local weather change and restore high-level co-operation between the 2 nations.

He was preceded earlier this month by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to China on a go to targeted on reopening communication channels between the 2 nations and reviving stalled talks between their militaries.

Xie stated China is “eager” to have a “stable, healthy relationship” with the U.S.

He stated instant “concrete” enhancements may embrace growing the variety of passenger flights between China and the U.S. — which have been closely curtailed throughout the pandemic — and renewing the nations’ co-operation settlement on science and know-how.

On the difficulty of the Ukraine struggle, Xie reiterated Chinese officers’ speaking factors that Beijing respects nations’ sovereignty and territorial integrity but in addition acknowledges “legitimate and reasonable security concerns.” China payments itself as impartial within the battle, however in observe it has proven Russia assist by organizing frequent state visits and joint army drills with Moscow.

On the difficulty of self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, Xie stated the “priority” is to cease the upcoming journey to the U.S. of Taiwanese vice chairman and presidential front-runner William Lai.

The go to, anticipated as a part of a visit subsequent month by Lai to Latin America, is sort of a “gray rhino charging at us,” Xie stated.

China opposes any formal exchanges between its diplomatic companions and Taiwan and has reacted angrily to such visits previously. In April, China carried out struggle video games round Taiwan after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. officers in Los Angeles whereas on her manner again from Central America.

The director of the U.S. de facto embassy in Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk, stated Wednesday there’s “absolutely no reason” for China to make use of Lai’s transit “as a pretext for any sort of provocative action.”