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Two Sessions 2023
ChinaDiplomacy

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang tells US to ‘hit the brakes’ as relations continue to deteriorate

  • Qin uses his first press conference in his new role to blame Washington for the current tensions, citing its ‘overreaction’ to an alleged spy balloon
  • The former ambassador accuses the US of undermining peace efforts in Ukraine, but also tries to win over Europe

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Qin Gang adopted a critical tone towards the US throughout the press conference. Photo: Reuters
Laura Zhou

There will be catastrophic consequences if the US fails to “hit the brakes” and allows the relationship with China to continue to go downhill, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned on Tuesday.

His comments, during his first press conference in his new role, left many observers with the impression that hopes for a quick rapprochement between the two global powers were fading.

Qin tried to blame the US for a wide range of problems the world is facing – accusing it of undermining efforts to end the war in Ukraine and fuelling a severe debt crisis in the developing world – but adopted a conciliatory tone towards Europe.
He also blamed Washington for the two countries’ deteriorating relationship and criticised the decision to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, an incident that prompted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call off a planned visit to Beijing

Beijing insists it was a weather balloon that was blown off course and Qin described it as “an unexpected accident caused by force majeure … even the US didn’t believe it posed a physical threat”.

He continued: “The US acted with a presumption of guilt. It overreacted, abused force and dramatised the accident, creating a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided.”

04:31

China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang hits out at US on Ukraine, rate hikes and Taiwan

China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang hits out at US on Ukraine, rate hikes and Taiwan
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