BEIJING: China on Thursday rejected the claim by the United States that it seeks “de-risking” instead of “decoupling” from China, stressing that the real risk facing the world is a “new Cold War.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters following a ministerial meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council on Wednesday that Washington and Brussels are not looking for “decoupling” from China but are focused on “de-risking.”
In response, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stressed the importance of defining “risks.” “‘De-risking’ has become a buzzword recently. But first and foremost, we need to identify what the ‘risks’ are when we talk about ‘de-risking,'” Mao told a regular press briefing in Beijing.
China pursues a high-level opening up and provides a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized environment for businesses from all over the world, she said.
China carries out economic, trade, and science and technology investment and cooperation with other countries in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win outcome, Mao continued.
She added that China upholds international fairness and justice, and promotes the resolution of disagreements through dialogue and consultation.
“A China like this poses no risk but offers opportunities,” she said.
The spokesperson underscored that the real risk facing the world is to provoke camp confrontation or a “new Cold War,” to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and create regional turmoil and chaos, to politicize economic, trade and technology issues and destabilize the global production and supply chain, and to transfer economic and financial risks to other countries to harvest global wealth in a cyclical manner.
“The international community should be vigilant and work together to fight against these risks,” she said.
‘Stay away from Taiwan’
Mao Ning, while responding to a question on reports about Taiwan’s plan to sign a trade agreement with the US, made it clear that China strongly opposes official interaction of any form between China’s Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic relations with China.
“That includes negotiating or signing any agreement of sovereign implication or official nature. The US’s move gravely violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and contravenes the US’s own commitment of maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan,” she said.
Mao Ning added that China has made solemn démarches to the US many times.
“The US needs to stop official interaction of any form with Taiwan, refrain from negotiating or signing any agreement of sovereign implication or official nature with China’s Taiwan region, and stop sending any wrong message to separatist forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ in the name of economy and trade,” she asserted.
The DPP authorities’ attempt to solicit US support for “Taiwan independence” in the name of economic and trade cooperation is just futile, she added.
Responding to another query about European Union’s pledge to join forces with the US to counter China’s non-market economic practices and disinformation, Mao Ning said that China is a victim of disinformation and we also pay high attention to non-market economic practices.
“If the US and the EU are concerned about this issue, it is suggested they take actions themselves and first of all, stop undertaking unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdictions in the name of national security, stop implementing discriminatory and differential industrial supporting policies, and stop hobbling other countries’ companies,” she maintained.
Mao Ning said that the world economy is under downward pressure.
“As major economies, the US and the EU need to take responsibilities, play a positive role and provide an open, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory environment for international trade and investment”.
Asked to comment on reports that US is considering new rules to curb US investment and know-how flowing into Chinese companies in the areas of advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, Mao Ning said that China has noted relevant reports and are closely following relevant developments.
“China is firmly opposed to the US politicizing and weaponizing trade and sci-tech issues, creating obstacles for normal technological cooperation and economic and trade exchanges in the industrial community and private sectors, and disrupting the global industrial and supply chains. Such practice is harmful and serves no one’s interests,” she concluded.
