Qin Gang, China's Foreign Minister, "Opposes Hegemony and Sanctions"... Sharp Criticism of the US

Remarks on This Year's Diplomatic Goals at the NPC Domestic and Foreign Press Conference

Qin Gang, the newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister, targeted the United States in his first press conference with domestic and international media, stating that China "firmly opposes all forms of hegemony and Cold War mentality." Throughout the conference, he criticized U.S.-led sanctions in terms of supply chains and international diplomacy, emphasizing an independent diplomatic approach.

On the 7th, Qin held his first annual press conference since taking office at the National People's Congress (NPC), stating, "China opposes unilateral sanctions." He continued, "Every country has the right to choose its own path," and stressed, "China will pursue an independent peace policy, continue openness, contribute to global development, and be a guardian of the international order."

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held his first annual press conference since taking office on the 7th at the National People's Congress (NPC), answering questions from domestic and international reporters. (Photo by CCTV)

Qin was appointed ambassador to the United States in July 2021, during a period of deteriorating U.S.-China relations, and took office as Foreign Minister at the end of last year. He has been known for his tough rhetoric against the U.S. and has become a symbol of China's 'wolf warrior diplomacy.'

He stated, "China adheres to the principles of peace and coexistence, mutual respect, and cooperation, and seeks the healthy development of U.S.-China relations," emphasizing that "the United States must reject the Cold War mentality and work with China to find the right path." At the same time, he added, "U.S. suppression will not stop China's rise," and "U.S.-China relations should be based on common interests, not domestic politics."

Regarding the U.S. shooting down of a Chinese surveillance balloon, he said, "China explained it as a civilian meteorological device, but the U.S. claimed it was collecting U.S. intelligence," pointing out that "(this) created a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided and violated the spirit of international law." When asked about the possibility of stable U.S.-China relations, he responded, "The U.S. overreacted to the surveillance suspicion, causing a diplomatic crisis," adding, "This incident shows serious distortion and demonstrates that U.S. policy has completely deviated from a rational and sound track."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.