WASHINGTON — Beijing does not wish to see a Cold War break out in between China and the U.S. and both nations require to work to fix relations that are under “unprecedented” stress, Beijing’s envoy to Washington stated on Tuesday.
“I don’t think a new Cold War would serve anybody’s interest,” stated Cui Tiankai, a veteran diplomat who works as China’s ambassador to the U.S., at the Aspen Security Conference.
“I don’t know why people like the term Cold War so much,” Cui informed Andrea Mitchell of NBC News, who talked to the ambassador and likewise took concerns from the virtual audience. He implicated the Trump administration of stiring stress, and stated, “We’re in the 21st century. Why should we allow history to repeat?”
Cui’s remarks came versus the background of installing friction in between Beijing and Washington and an emerging bipartisan agreement in Congress that the U.S. requires to take a difficult line with China.
The ambassador dismissed U.S. criticism of China’s trade practices and allegations that Chinese innovation business such as TikTok posture a danger to customer personal privacy in America and in other places.
“I don’t think there’s any evidence that any company is giving such information to the Chinese government. People make these accusations but never show us any evidence,” he stated when inquired about TikTok.
Cui stated the Trump administration’s dangers to prohibit TikTok in the U.S. opposed Washington’s openly mentioned dedication to free markets.
“To accuse China of not giving American companies a level playing field, while at the same, they themselves are denying a Chinese company such a level playing field — this is extremely unfair,” he stated.
President Donald Trump at first threatened to expel TikTok from the U.S. market however has given that stated he would be open to the software application giant Microsoft purchasing the business.
The floor in almost 50 years
Cui stated relations in between the U.S. and China were at the most affordable point in almost 50 years, given that President Richard Nixon opened a discussion with Beijing in 1971.
“We are at a very critical moment in our relations,” the ambassador stated.
The wear and tear in relations is “unprecedented since Dr Kissinger’s visit almost a half century ago,” he stated, describing then-National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger’s groundbreaking journey to China in 1971.
“The normalization of relations between our two countries and the growth of this relationship over decades … has served the interests of both countries and the world very well,” the ambassador stated.
Despite present stress, Cui stated there was space for cooperation on a series of problems, consisting of on trade, the coronavirus pandemic, environment modification and nuclear expansion.
“Both sides, both of us have to work harder to overcome the current difficulties, to try to dispel suspicion, doubts or even fear,” he stated. “We have to build a constructive and mutually beneficial relationship for the future.”
Although Trump formerly promoted his relationship with China’s president, Xi Jinping, and frequently avoided slamming Beijing over its human rights record, the administration has actually taken a progressively confrontational tone with China.
In current weeks, besides threatening to bar TikTok, the Trump administration has actually purchased the closure of China’s consulate in Houston over espionage claims, enforced sanctions on senior Chinese authorities and Chinese business over the treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang and identified China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea unlawful.
Cui stated the Trump administration’s actions and language have actually triggered public outrage in his nation. “The Chinese people, they are also very much shocked, they feel very disappointed by what’s happened,” he stated. “There’s a rising anger among the Chinese public.”
Trump promoted the “Phase One” trade arrangement concurred this year with China as a success and had actually implicated his predecessors of enabling Beijing to have an unjust benefit over American business. But some China hawks in Washington have actually questioned the trade arrangement and recommended the administration think about exploding the offer.
Cui, nevertheless, revealed optimism on the trade front, stating the “Phase One” offer was being executed and the 2 sides were talking about a 2nd trade arrangement.
“As far as I know, the two economic teams have been in touch with each other. We are making good progress,” he stated.
China performed all of its dedications in the Phase One offer within the very first 4 months, he stated, consisting of buying American farming items, though the coronavirus pandemic has actually impeded trade.
Cui protected China’s handling of the pandemic, stating his federal government shared info with the remainder of the world quickly. And he declined criticism of China’s habits in the tactical South China Sea, where Beijing has actually encountered nearby nations over territorial disagreements.
The ambassador implicated the U.S. of sustaining stress in the South China Sea by releasing ships and airplane to the area.
“This is really raising the risk of a conflict or confrontation,” he stated.
Washington states U.S. Navy patrols are carried out in global waters and airspace to support “freedom of navigation” rights for all nations.
