- The US is pushing back on the idea that it wants to stifle China and said it does not seek to separate the two economies, according to comments from a State Department spokesman.
- The spokeswoman was responding to CNBC’s request for comment on Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s remarks on Tuesday.
- Qin said the US needed to “hit the brakes” to prevent conflict with China.
BEIJING – The United States is pushing back on the idea that it wants to suppress China, saying it does not seek to tear the two economies apart, according to comments from a State Department spokesman.
The spokeswoman was responding to CNBC’s request for comment on Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s remarks on Tuesday. Qin claimed that the US call to “establish deterrence” on relations meant that China should not react.
Qin also said that the US needed to “hit the brakes” to prevent conflict with China.
A US State Department spokesman said, “We have made it clear that we do not seek to engage China or seek a new Cold War.”
The spokesman pointed to comments by Secretary of State Antony Blinken last year that the US did not seek to prevent China from growing its economy or “advancing the interests of its people”.
“He also said that we do not want to isolate China’s economy from ours, although China is pursuing asymmetric isolation,” the spokesperson said.
Blinken first defined asymmetric decoupling “Demand to make China less dependent on the world and the world more dependent on China.”
Beijing has stepped up efforts to promote its self-sufficiency in technology and food supplies. The country remains a major – if not the largest – trading partner in much of the world, from Taiwan to Singapore, Germany and the US.
The Biden administration tightened restrictions late last year on the ability of US businesses and individuals to work with Chinese partners on high-end semiconductors. administration is Reportedly considering US investment in advanced Chinese technology, mainly military-related.
Tension has increased between the US and China in the last few years. In a sign of some stability in relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden met in person in November.
However, the appearance of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the US forced Blinken to postpone his trip to Beijing last month. China claims that the balloon was for weather research and flew off course.
Credit: www.cnbc.com /