NEW YORK — China scolded President Joe Biden for pitching liberal democracies against other systems of government during its United Nations General Assembly address.
Without mentioning Biden by name, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi contended that different governing systems “should not be used as an excuse for division,” repeating the Chinese Communist Party’s “One China” policy, reiterating its position against protectionist economics, and appealing to developing countries. He added that democracy and human rights should not be deployed as “tools” to achieve “political ends.”
BIDEN MAKES HIS LONG-SHOT UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM PITCH
“Turbulence and war can only open Pandora’s box,” Wang told the U.N. Saturday through a translator. “We should jointly oppose group politics and bloc confrontations. … All of us should pull together to navigate the ship through a storm.”
Wang’s address echoed comments he made Thursday at the Asia Society on the sidelines of the General Assembly. There, he told the nonprofit organization that America’s posture toward China should be based on “mutual respect,” “peaceful coexistence,” and “win-win cooperation,” warning disagreement over Taiwan undermines bilateral relations.
“Taiwan independence is like a highly disruptive grey rhino charging towards us that must be stopped resolutely,” Wang said during the event.
Wang’s U.N. address also comes after his Friday meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A State Department readout of the diplomats’ discussion alluded to tensions between their respective countries, as did Biden during his own General Assembly speech.
“We do not seek conflict,” Biden said Wednesday. “We do not seek a cold war. We do not ask any nation to choose between the United States or any other partner.”
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Wang, who met with both Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, has had to manage China’s “no limits” relationship with Moscow while telling Kyiv all countries deserve to have their sovereignty and territorial integrity respected and that the U.N. Charter’s purposes and principles should be observed.
