‘Troubling developments’ could derail Sino-US relations, China’s US ambassador warns
Ambassador Cui Tiankai’s remarks to US governors’ parley came as US President Donald Trump threatened to put quotas and tariffs on Chinese steel
China’s ambassador to Washington warned the US on Thursday of “troubling developments” between the two sides that could “derail” the bilateral relationship, while US President Trump threatened to put quotas and tariffs on Chinese steel dumping.
“More recently, there are some troubling developments on the issues that concern China’s vital interests and the issues that concern the critical foundation of our relations,” Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai said during an event that was part of the US National Governors Association’s meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.
“I’m afraid the people behind such actions are either those who refuse to let go and update their mindset or those who play selfish political games, regardless of the big picture,” Cui said. “If they succeeded, China-US relations could derail.”
Cui’s comments come ahead of the first China-US Comprehensive Economic Dialogue on Wednesday in Washington, one of four new mechanisms launched by China’s President Xi Jinping and Trump during their summit in early April in Florida, designed to resolve the world’s two largest economies’ trade disputes and ease investment restrictions.
