China warns US to drop its bias after Tillerson’s ‘blunt’ message

Beijing warned the United States to drop its bias against China after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington wanted to “dramatically deepen” ties with New Delhi to counter China’s influence in Asia.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a press briefing on Thursday that the US should take an objective view of China, reiterating that Beijing has steadfastly upheld international order, with the United Nations at the centre.

“Based on the purposes and principles of the UN charter, we will firmly uphold multilateralism, yet we will also firmly safeguard our own rights and interests,” Lu said.

Tillerson took aim at China in a speech on Wednesday over instances where Beijing “subverts the sovereignty of neighbouring countries and disadvantages the US” and its allies, citing territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea, where Beijing lays claim to 90 per cent of the waters.

“China, while rising alongside India, has done so less responsibly, at times undermining the international, rules-based order,” he said. “China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea directly challenge the international laws and norms that the United States and India both stand for.”