TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In his first news conference since taking office, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang lashed out Tuesday (March 7) at the United States over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washington's support for Taiwan.
Washington's China policy has "entirely deviated from the rational and sound track," Qin told journalists on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp legislature, in his only formal scheduled news conference for the year. However, he is also prone to taking questions during foreign visits.
"If 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," he said.
"Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity."
Qin's harsh and borderline apocalyptic language defies predictions that China was abandoning its aggressive "wolf warrior" diplomacy in favor of a more moderate presentation as bilateral relations have hit a historical low over trade and technology, Taiwan, human rights, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Qin repeated criticisms of Washington's recent shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. east coast, saying that was entirely an unexpected accident caused by force majeure.
"In this case, the United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted. It regards China as its primary rival and the most significant geopolitical challenge," Qin said.
"This is like the first button in a shirt being put wrong, and the result is that the U.S.-China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track.”
Qin said China would be "committed to" the stable development of the U.S.–China relations and called on the U.S. to do its part.
"We hope the U.S. will work with China, honor its commitment, and explore the right way to get along with China," he said.