China ‘regrets’ America’s departure from Universal Postal Union
Beijing will continue working ‘to make our contribution to the development of the global postal service’, says foreign ministry; White House says the system allows developing countries like China to ship goods around the world more cheaply and put American firms at a disadvantage
China has said it regrets the United States’ decision to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union (UPU), in a move some analysts said is further evidence of Washington trying to curtail Beijing’s power.
The White House said on Wednesday it planned to leave the 144-year old international postal alliance, which it described as a “flawed system” that allowed developing countries like China to ship goods around the world more cheaply and put American firms at a disadvantage.
“We regret the US’ decision to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union,” foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
“China has been calling for and upholding multilateralism and actively supporting the UPU,” he said. “We will continue working with all sides to make our contribution to the development of the global postal service.”
Zhang Baohui, a professor of political science at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, said that America’s departure from the UPU was part of US President Donald Trump’s strategy for the “all-out containment” of China but its significance, in comparison to the damage caused by US tariffs on Chinese imports, would be limited.