{"id":87925,"date":"2023-03-07T19:50:06","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T19:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/03\/07\/chinese-minister-warns-of-conflict-unless-us-changes-course\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:51:09","slug":"chinese-minister-warns-of-conflict-unless-us-changes-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2023\/03\/07\/chinese-minister-warns-of-conflict-unless-us-changes-course\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese minister warns of conflict unless US changes course"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BEIJING \u2014 Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned Tuesday that Beijing and Washington are headed for \u201cconflict and confrontation\u201d if the U.S. doesn\u2019t change course, striking a combative tone at a moment when relations between the rivals are at a historic low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his first news conference since taking office late last year, Qin\u2019s harsh language appeared to defy predictions that China might abandon its aggressive \u201cwolf warrior\u201d diplomacy in favor of more moderate rhetoric as the two countries face off over trade and technology, Taiwan, human rights and Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington\u2019s China policy has \u201centirely deviated from the rational and sound track,\u201d Qin told journalists on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China\u2019s rubber-stamp legislature<\/a>, when leaders lay out their economic and political priorities for the coming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation,\u201d said Qin, whose new position is junior to the Communist Party\u2019s senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi. \u201cSuch competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qin\u2019s comments echoed remarks made by leader Xi Jinping in a speech Monday to legislators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWestern countries led by the United States have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented grave challenges to our nation\u2019s development,\u201d Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the face of that, China must \u201cremain calm, maintain concentration, strive for progress while maintaining stability, take active actions, unite as one, and dare to fight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about Qin\u2019s and Xi\u2019s comments, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that U.S. policy on China has remained consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no change to the United States\u2019 posture when it comes to this bilateral relationship,\u201d Kirby said. \u201cThe president believes those tensions obviously have to be recognized, but can be worked through. And we again seek competition not conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. officials have grown increasingly worried about China\u2019s expansive political and economic goals and the possibility of war over Taiwan \u2014 and many in Washington have called for the U.S. to make a bigger effort to counter Chinese influence abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\t