China has a new foreign minister, and in his first news conference since taking office, he directed a warning to the U.S. He said that if Washington stays on its current path, there will be inevitable “confrontation and conflict” between the United States and China.
The new Foreign Minister Qin Gang shares the same sentiments as China’s leader Xi Jinping. They blame the U.S. for a deteriorating relationship.
“If the U.S. side does not put on the brakes and continues down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can stop the derailment and rollover into confrontation and conflict,” said Qin during the press conference.
The foreign minister raised many concerns with the U.S. He blamed the U.S. for unfair competition, and for suppressing China’s economy which has struggled since the pandemic.
Qin also talked about the U.S. sending increased military support to Taiwan. He said that was the “first red line” in China’s relations with the U.S.
He also criticized Washington’s decision to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon after it crossed into U.S. airspace.
The latest friction comes after the U.S. warned China not to send aid to Russia during the war in Ukraine. The foreign minister emphasized China is not sending weapons into the war zone, but does have a working relationship with Russia.
As China emphasizes good relations with Russia, there is a shared disdain for the U.S.
