China warned on Wednesday it was essential to avoid a “new Cold War” as world leaders gathered in Indonesia amid sharpening geopolitical rivalries across the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese Premier Li Qiang said countries should “appropriately handle differences and disputes, and not resort to confrontation or bloc confrontation.” He also called for avoiding picking sides in conflicts.
Speaking at an annual summit involving members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan, and South Korea, he added: “If we want to build stronger community ties and ensure peace in our region, we should not be driven by the desire to stand up against a great power or to play off one another against each other.”
Li’s remarks came as the US and China are locked in intense diplomatic friction over Taiwan, trade, the North Korean nuclear crisis, and the escalating conflict in Ukraine. At a meeting earlier this week between US Vice-President Joseph Biden and leaders of the 10-nation ASEAN bloc, Biden said the United States would “describe the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against civilian targets in Ukraine.” He did not elaborate on the consequences, but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki later signaled that sanctions are an option.
At a separate event on Tuesday, Xi told Kissinger that the two countries can “get along correctly and promote the steady development of China-US relations.” In an official readout posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website, Xi also criticized the planned visit by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan next month, saying the Chinese military will “resolutely safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
On Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held “candid, substantive and constructive talks” with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing. The pair discussed various issues, including the so-called spy balloon incident in February that sharply increased tensions between the two countries. The readout said the two had agreed that “the United States must not hurt China’s legitimate rights and interests to preserve and strengthen the foundation of the US-China relationship.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the US Commerce Department announced it has added 33 Chinese companies to its Unverified List. The move means these companies will face tighter controls when receiving shipments from the US. This includes high-tech manufacturers, government research labs, and universities.
The latest moves come as Beijing ramps up a campaign to bolster the country’s economy, and its leaders seek to assert regional influence in the wake of a growing chorus of criticism that they are building a new type of imperialism. The list of companies targeted by the US includes those that make high-tech components used in missiles, aircraft, and mobile phones. The move is expected to provoke a response from Beijing. It comes as the US and China are in a period of heightened economic tensions.
