China on working with Biden administration, Taiwan
(5 Feb 2021) China said on Friday it intends to develop win-win cooperation with the US while safeguarding its interests in response to President Joe Biden's foreign policy address. In his first foreign policy speech as the U.S. president on Thursday, Biden called China "our most serious competitor," and vowed to "confront China's economic abuses", but said the U.S. stands ready "to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so." Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said the common interests of the two countries "far outweigh the differences". Wang also said China will "firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests". At Friday's press conference, Wang praised the Guyanese government's decision to stop the establishment of a Taiwan's trade office in the South American country. Taiwan blamed Chinese interference in what had been seen as a diplomatic victory just 24 hours earlier. The Taiwan Foreign Ministry said China had exerted pressure on the South American country's government and the agreement could not be salvaged despite considerable efforts. Any attempt by Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party to carve out more space for the island in the international community will end in its government making a "laughing stock of itself," Wang said. China claims the island as its territory and exerts significant diplomatic pressure worldwide to pressure Taiwan, contending it has no right to official exchanges with any foreign governments or multinational organizations such as the United Nations. Beijing has refused all direct contact with Taiwan's government since the election of independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. Tsai was re-elected last year to a second four-year term. The US has applauded the establishment of the trade office, with both the embassy in Guyana and the de-facto mission in Taipei issuing statements of support. China criticised the US of violating the international law and the norms of international relations by making the statements. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
