Tensions Escalate: China-U.S. Relationship Strained by Verbal Barbs and Interference Disputes
Relations between Washington and Beijing recently have been turning from bad to worse, with both sides exchanging verbal barbs and sharpening their stances on a range of issues, from trade to technology to human rights. It remains unclear if the Blinken visit to Beijing was able to make any progress in repairing the relationship. As the tensions continue, China has called on the U.S. to act in a “calm and professional manner” and to stop “hegemony” and “bullying.”.
China has long bristled at what it sees as U.S. meddling in its internal affairs. But the recent relationship has been especially tense, with the two sides exchanging verbal barbs and sharpening their stances on a range of issues, from trade to technology to human rights. On Wednesday, China said it was committed to developing a relationship with the U.S. based on “equality, mutual respect and non-interference” and hoped the U.S. would do the same. “We hope the U.S. will abandon its ideological bias, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and treat China’s development path and social system in an objective and rational way,” the Chinese envoy added.
China has criticized President Joe Biden for calling Chinese leader Xi Jinping a dictator, calling the comments “extremely absurd and irresponsible.” The remarks come shortly after Secretary of State Antony Blinken's just concluded visit to Beijing in an attempt to improve the strained relationship between the two nations. At a fundraiser on Tuesday night, Biden said Xi was embarrassed by the recent tensions surrounding a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had been shot down by the U.S. Air Force over the East Coast. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing that Biden’s comments “go totally against facts and seriously violate diplomatic protocol, and severely infringe on China’s political dignity.” Mao added that the U.S. remarks were “blatant political provocation” and “China expresses strong dissatisfaction and opposition.” She reiterated China’s assertion that the balloon had been intended for meteorological research and had been blown off-course accidentally.
Mao said China was committed to developing a relationship with the U.S. based on “equality, mutual respect and non-interference.” Relations between the two superpowers have been tense, with both sides exchanging verbal barbs and sharpening their stances on a range of issues, from trade to technology to human rights. It remains unclear if the Blinken visit to Beijing was able to make any progress in repairing the relationship. As the tensions continue, China has called on the U.S. to act in a “calm and professional manner” and to stop “hegemony” and “bullying.”.