The US secretary of state said that China’s cessation of cooperation in important areas would punish the world, not just Washington.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of taking “irresponsible steps” by shutting down vital communication channels with Washington, and said Beijing’s retaliatory actions against Taiwan shows that China has shifted from prioritizing peaceful resolutions to the use of force.
Officials in Taipei said Blinken’s comments on Saturday come as Chinese military planes and warships continue to simulate an attack on Taiwan, officials in Taipei said. , as part of a series of steps Beijing took after visit to island democracy by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier this week.
China’s retaliation, Blinken said at a press conference in Manila, has blocked bilateral progress in eight key areas including defense, drug control, transnational crime and climate change. are moves that will punish the world, not just the United States.
“These channels include some military-to-military channels, which are important for avoiding misinformation and avoiding crises,” Blinken said.
“Suspending climate cooperation does not punish the United States, it punishes the world, especially the developing world. We should not hold cooperation hostage on global issues of concern because of the differences between our two countries, he said.
Tackling climate change is a key area of cooperation between the two superpowers, which are also the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.
Blinken said the US had heard concerns from allies about what he called China’s dangerous and destabilizing actions around Taiwan in recent days, but Washington would remain steadfast in handling it. situation.
The foreign minister also said he had conveyed to the Chinese foreign minister that the United States was determined to keep channels of communication open to prevent any miscalculation.
“So let me be clear, the United States does not believe that escalation is in the interest of Taiwan, the region, or our national security,” he said.
“We will keep our communication channels with China open, with the aim of avoiding escalation due to misunderstanding or miscommunication.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday accused Blinken of “telling the truth” about China.
“We want to issue a warning to the United States: Don’t act rashly, don’t create a bigger crisis,” Wang said.
