China doesn’t want U.S. trade war, but will retaliate against further curbs: ambassador – National | 24CA News
China doesn’t need a commerce warfare with the United States however will retaliate in opposition to any additional U.S. restrictions on expertise and commerce, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. mentioned.
Ambassador Xie Feng criticized U.S. curbs on the sale of microchips and chipmaking tools 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 mentioned 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 mentioned, referring to measures to curb U.S. expertise gross sales to Chinese telecommunications large Huawei over safety considerations.
“This is like restricting the other side to wear outdated swimwear in a swimming contest while you yourself (are) wearing a Speedo,” he mentioned.
China earlier this month imposed export curbs on two key metals utilized in laptop chips and photo voltaic cells, a measure broadly seen as retaliation for the U.S. restrictions on microchips. Earlier this yr, Beijing restricted gross sales of merchandise from Micron Inc., the most important U.S. producer of reminiscence chips.
“Definitely it’s not our hope to have a tit for tat,” Xie mentioned. “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 current months over a slew of points together with a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over U.S. territory and tensions over commerce, expertise, human rights and China’s declare to Taiwan and far of the South China Sea.
As a part of efforts to fix ties, three prime U.S. officers visited Beijing in current 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 cooperation between the 2 nations.
He was preceded earlier this month by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to China on a go to centered on reopening communication channels between the 2 nations and reviving stalled talks between their militaries.
Xie mentioned China is “eager” to have a “stable, healthy relationship” with the U.S.
He mentioned speedy “concrete” enhancements might embody growing the variety of passenger flights between China and the U.S. – which have been closely curtailed throughout the pandemic – and renewing the nations’ cooperation settlement on science and expertise.
On the difficulty of the Ukraine warfare, 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 apply it has proven Russia assist by organizing frequent state visits and joint navy drills with Moscow.
On the difficulty of self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, Xie mentioned the “priority” is to cease the upcoming journey to the U.S. of Taiwanese vp 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 mentioned.
China opposes any formal exchanges between its diplomatic companions and Taiwan and has reacted angrily to such visits previously. In April, China carried out warfare video games round Taiwan after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. officers in Los Angeles whereas on her method again from Central America.
The director of the U.S. de facto embassy in Taiwan, Sandra Oudkirk, mentioned Wednesday there may be “absolutely no reason” for China to make use of Lai’s transit “as a pretext for any sort of provocative action.”
© 2023 The Canadian Press
