US Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepares for his upcoming visit to China, Beijing has leveled accusations against Washington, claiming repeated interference in its internal affairs and the undermining of China’s interests.
“The United States continues pushing forward the strategy of containing China, keeps adopting erroneous words and actions that interfere in China’s internal affairs, smear China’s image and undermine China’s interests,” According to a statement from an unnamed representative of the Chinese Ministry.
In response, “China resolutely opposes such moves and has taken strong countermeasures,” the report said.
While relations between the two nations have seen some stabilization following a recent telephone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in April, the Xinhua report notes that “There are still significant negative factors in the bilateral relationship."
The ministry highlighted “so-called ‘overcapacity’ is [a] misleading narrative … The real intention is to kneecap China’s industrial development and put the US in a more advantageous position in market competition. It’s another example of outright economic coercion and bullying."
During his three-day visit, Blinken intends to travel to both Shanghai and Beijing, with discussions slated to center on enhancing communication and mitigating the risk of misjudgments and conflicts, as indicated by preliminary reports from Washington.
Additionally, Blinken plans to address areas of concern for the US, including China’s human rights record, perceived unfair economic practices, and its support for Russia’s defense industry. The volatile situation in the Middle East is also expected to be on the agenda.
Following a year devoid of direct contact, President Biden and President Xi convened in California in November, followed by discussions between high-ranking officials from both governments.
Earlier this month, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen journeyed to China to engage with representatives from US companies and the Chinese government.
Despite ongoing tensions, Xinhua, quoting the ministry, noted that the current state of affairs differs from a year ago when bilateral relations were at a historic low.
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