Beijing (TDI): China’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that Beijing and Washington can achieve “many great things” if they work together, ahead of president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month.
But Wang Yi also warned against what he called the Washington’ “crude interference” on the issue of Taiwan.
The two big powers have butted heads on a range of matters in recent years, from trade and technology to human rights Taiwan.
Wang said China’s policy towards the US “has not changed” during a Tuesday address in Beijing that reflected on Beijing’s diplomatic work in the past year and its expectations for the future.
He said that economic working groups and cooperation on cross-border drug control prove that as long as Beijing and Washington cooperate, we can accomplish many great things.
He also, however, repeated a warning over Taiwan, stating China “resolutely opposed illegal suppression by the US, particularly its crude interference in China’s internal affairs”.
“We must take a firm response, resolutely defend our own rights and interests, and protect the basic norms of international relations,” Wang said.
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The China-US ties may sour further after Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20, with the president-elect pledging more tariffs to punish what he calls unfair trade practices by China — something Beijing firmly denies.
Wang said China hoped the Trump administration would “make the right choices, work with Beijing in the same direction, overcome obstacles, eliminate disruptions, and strive for stable, healthy, and sustainable development of bilateral ties”.
Wang said that the global landscape is marked by intertwined turbulence and change, with geopolitical conflicts are polonging and escalating, and decoupling and supply chain disruptions are increasing.
“In the face of global turbulence and conflict, Beijing will firmly remain a force for peace,” he added.
