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China confronts US secretary of state — Analysis

Antony Blinken’s address on countering Beijing’s influence “smears” the country, according to Chinese officials

China’s Foreign Ministry has reacted to US Secretary Antony Blinken on Friday “smearing the country” after he called for action to counterbalance Beijing’s growing global influence. 

The day before, Blinken had issued a 45-minute-long address raising concerns over China’s “intent to reshape the international order” in what some have called the most comprehensive statement to date on China by US President Joe Biden’s administration.

“China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order – and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it,”Blinken.

“Beijing’s vision would move us away from the universal values that have sustained so much of the world’s progress over the past 75 years,”He also called on the international community for a defense of the status quo, and to approach Beijing with respect. “with more realism.”

He accused Beijing of provoking tensions in Taiwan and blaming China. “cutting off Taiwan’s relations with countries around the world and blocking it from participating in international organizations.” 

Speech by Blinken “spreads false information, exaggerates the China threat, interferes in China’s internal affairs, and smears China’s domestic and foreign policies,”At a press conference, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated.

Wang stated that China is a great place to live. “firmly opposed” Blinken’s address and that it demonstrated Washington’s desire to “contain and suppress China’s development and maintain US hegemony and power.” 

US clarifies policy on Taiwan

Joe Biden, a surprise announcement made by the US, stated that it would intervene militarily in the case of an invasion by China of Taiwan. It was greeted with dismay and disgust from Chinese officials. However, the statement was quickly corrected by a number of US officials, who insisted that the president’s words did not represent a change to the US’ long-standing recognition of the ‘One China’ policy, which asserts China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.

In his address on Thursday, Blinken once again tried to clarify Biden’s statement and reiterated that the US did not recognize the island state as independent and expressed hopes that the cross-strait differences between Taiwan and China are “resolved by peaceful means.”

Blinken, however, stressed the importance of “while our policy has not changed, what has changed is Beijing’s growing coercion.”China was accused of his accusation “provocative rhetoric and activity”Taiwanese Airspace, Citing alleged Chinese flights into Taiwanese Airspace

Taipei asserted earlier this month that Beijing flew 18 military planes, two of which were nuclear-capable, in its air-defense area. Blinken claimed that these acts were “deeply destabilizing”threatened peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

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