China urges US to lift sanctions, tariffs, technology blockade

Beijing, Jul 27 (EFE).- China asked the United States to lift all unilateral sanctions, high tariffs and technology blockade imposed on it, state news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi passed on these petitions to US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a meeting Monday in the city of Tianjin, in northeastern China.

“It is hoped that the US side will have an objective and correct understanding of China, abandon arrogance and prejudice, stop acting as a preacher, and return to a rational and pragmatic China policy,” Wang told Sherman.

The Chinese minister underlined that in the face of challenges in China-US relations, the US needed to seriously consider whether they wanted to steer bilateral ties towards confrontation or improvement.

The conversation also focused on issues such as the situation in Hong Kong and the western regions of Xinjiang and Tibet.

In this regard, Wang stressed the issues regarding Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong have never been about “human rights” or “democracy,” but about their independence or separatist movements.

The topic of Taiwan – an island ruled autonomously since 1949 but claimed by Beijing – was also discussed at the meeting.

The Chinese foreign minister said that if “Taiwan independence” forces dare to provoke, China has the right to take any necessary measure to stop it.

On a more conciliatory tone, Wang offered “a way for two major countries with different systems, cultures and stages of development to coexist peacefully on this planet through dialogue.”

The United States, on its part, appeared unwilling to make concessions on previously expressed positions.

According to a statement issued by the US State Department, Sherman welcomed the “stiff competition” between the two countries, but warned that the US would continue to “strengthen our own competitive hand” without seeking conflict with China.

Sherman also expressed concern about several actions by China that “undermine the international rules-based order” and run counter to the values and interests of the US and its allies and partners.

These include concerns about human rights, such as “Beijing’s anti-democratic crackdown in Hong Kong”, “crimes against humanity in Xinjiang”, “the curtailing of media access and freedom of the press”, as well as Beijing’s conduct in cyberspace, across the Taiwan Strait, and in the East and South China Seas.

Another issue brought up by Washington was China’s reluctance to allow a second phase of investigation into the origins of Covid-19.

However, Sherman also underscored the importance of cooperation in areas such as the climate crisis, counternarcotics, nonproliferation, and regional concerns including North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. EFE

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