China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi blasts US during Asean tour, calling it world’s ‘biggest source of instability’

Beijing’s top diplomat accuses Washington of suppressing emerging countries and ‘coercing’ others into ‘unilateral protectionism’
The comments, made in meeting with Singaporean leader, come a day after US announces restrictions on China-bound tech investments

China-Singapore relations

Kawala Xie

Published: 8:33pm, 11 Aug 2023

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China’s top diplomat Wang Yi lashed out at the US on Friday for suppressing emerging countries and described Washington as “the biggest source of instability” in the world.

Wang, who became China’s foreign minister again following Qin Gang’s abrupt departure last month, slammed US hegemony and protectionism during his Southeast Asia trip on Friday, a day after Washington imposed new tech investment curbs against Beijing.

“The United States, out of its motive to maintain unipolar hegemony, is unwilling to see the development and revitalisation of China and other emerging countries,” Wang told Singaporean prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“On the one hand, it condones and supports the Taiwan independence forces relying on the United States to seek independence, trying to cross China’s red lines,” Wang said.

“On the other hand, it tears away the pretence of fair competition and coerces other countries into unilateral protectionism against China.

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“These perverse practices will only damage its own credibility, laying bare the fact that the United States has become the biggest destabilising factor in the world.”

He said China’s development would bring lasting benefits and opportunities to all countries, especially its neighbours.

Wang’s trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia this week is his first official overseas visit after his reappointment as foreign minister last month.

The trip is aimed at strengthening ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) partners as Beijing steps up its diplomatic offensive in the developing world amid tensions with the US.

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Biden to introduce new restrictions on US investments in China, declares tech ‘emergency’

It also coincided with US President Joe Biden’s announcement of new restrictions on American investments in sensitive technologies in China, a long-awaited measure that is expected to further impede China’s hi-tech development.

Meanwhile, tensions are simmering as Washington has vowed support for the Philippines in its latest dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. A planned transit stopover in the US by Taiwanese presidential hopeful and current vice-president William Lai Ching-te has also strained ties.

Lee, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement, told Wang in their meeting that “major countries” were expected to “play a leading role” to create mutual benefits in a world that is “not peaceful”.

“Singapore supports Asean and China to deepen cooperation and jointly maintain regional peace, stability and development,” he was quoted as saying.

In a separate meeting with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is tipped to succeed Lee, Wang said there was a need to maintain an international system centred on the United Nations and an international order based on international law.

Wang also stressed China’s willingness to work closely with Singapore on international affairs and push for positive development of China-Asean relations.

Wong, also according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement, said Singapore opposed “law of the jungle” and power politics, and would uphold World Trade Organization rules to maintain a fair, open and inclusive regional cooperation framework.

Wang also met Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Thursday. They agreed to boost cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, increase people-to-people exchanges and fully resume direct flights between the two countries.

Beijing’s top diplomat to visit Asean members amid South China Sea tensions

Singapore maintains strong defence ties with the US and economic ties with China.

China has been Singapore’s biggest trading partner since 2013. Beijing has also made Singapore and other Asean countries a focus for the belt and road – its strategy to build trade and infrastructure links – over the past two years.

Singapore was one of the first countries to receive Chinese tour groups after Beijing relaxed its Covid-19 travel restrictions earlier this year following three years of strict pandemic measures.

However, direct flights between the two countries have not been fully restored, and Singapore Airlines has estimated flights to Beijing and Shanghai will reach pre-pandemic levels next spring.

After visiting Singapore, Wang arrived in Malaysia on Friday afternoon and met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He will visit Cambodia from Saturday before wrapping up his four-day tour on Sunday.