Xi denounces Western-led campaign led by Washington to "encircle" his country

China: We will not accept "sanctions" or "threats" from America and its allies

Xi has called for his country to be less dependent on foreign countries. AFP

Chinese Foreign Minister Chen Gang, in response to a question at a press conference yesterday, expressed regret over the current state of Sino-US relations, and stressed that his country will not accept "sanctions" or "threats" from America and its allies, while Chinese President Xi Jinping denounced a Western campaign led by the United States aimed at "encircling" his country and "containing and suppressing it."

"I believe that what determines China-U.S. relations should be common interests, shared responsibilities and friendship between the two peoples, not U.S. domestic politics and this kind of neo-hysterical McCarthyism" against China, he said, referring to repeated criticism of the U.S. political class against his country.

Gang also lamented recent accusations by some Western countries accusing China, without evidence, of intending to supply Russia with weapons in its war against Ukraine.

He said Beijing would not accept "sanctions" or "threats" from Washington and its allies.

In late February, China released a 12-point document urging Moscow and Kiev to hold peace talks. The document also calls for respect for the territorial integrity of all countries, implying the territory of Ukraine, part of which is under Russian control.

While Kiev cautiously welcomed the Chinese document, it was met with more skepticism in the West, because Beijing, officially neutral, has never publicly condemned Moscow.

China "is neither the cause nor a party to the crisis and has not provided weapons to either side," Gang said, calling for peace talks to begin "as soon as possible."

President Xi Jinping, during a parliamentary session in Beijing, denounced a Western campaign led by Washington aimed at "encircling", "containing and suppressing" his country, calling on the private sector to innovate more to make his country less dependent on foreign countries.

China and the United States are fighting hard over the manufacture of semiconductors, which are key chips in a wide range of sectors and products ranging from cars to smartphones to medical equipment and household electrical appliances to military equipment. In a rare direct criticism of Washington, Xi added that "Western countries, led by Washington, have implemented a policy of containment, encirclement and repression against China, which has created unprecedented challenges to the development of our country."

He noted that private companies should "take the initiative and walk the path of quality development," referring to quality improvement and research.

Earlier on Monday, Xi stressed that "a large country of 1.4 billion people should rely only on itself" on the matter, because "international markets cannot protect us."