China’s Qin Gang accuses US of seeking ‘conflict and confrontation’

China’s new foreign minister said the United States is heading for “conflict and confrontation” with Beijing, as he defended its stance on the war in Ukraine and close ties with Russia.

Qin Gang said Washington should change its “distorted” attitude towards China, accusing it of engaging in suppression and containment instead of engaging in fair competition.

Relations between the US and China have seen a spike in tensions over Taiwan, a “spy” balloon encroaching US airspace, trade and Beijing’s stance on Putin’s invasion.

He made the comments on Tuesday at his first news conference on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting after assuming responsibilities from the outgoing influential foreign minister. A close ally of president Xi Jinping, he said Washington “regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge”.

“This is like the first button in the shirt being [done up] wrong,” he said, one of a string of analogies.

“If the United States does not hit the brakes, and continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailment, which will become conflict and confrontation,” he said. “And who will bear the catastrophic consequences?”

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