US warns Europe not to follow China in the ‘wrong direction’

Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper accused by Chinese foreign minister of telling ‘lies’ about the country

US secretary of state and defence secretary both use Munich Security Conference speech to warn allies of the threat posed by Beijing

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo characterises China as a threat to the West. Photo: DPA

Published: 9:05pm, 15 Feb 2020Updated: 10:46pm, 15 Feb 2020

The US has warned Europe not to be “fooled” by the “wrong direction” China is taking under Xi Jinping.

The White House is keen to keep Europe onside amid its intensifying rivalry with China in areas such as cybersecurity, technology and trade, and on Saturday both the Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used the Munich Security Conference to highlight their concerns.

But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi dismissed their comments as “lies” and said the country’s handling of the Covid-19 outbreak showed the advantages of the Chinese system.

Esper devoted his whole speech to the threats posed by China’s rise, while Pompeo compared Beijing to Moscow and Tehran, saying it was a threat to both Europe and America.

Wang Yi says China’s handling of the Covid-19 outbreak shows the strength of its system. Photo: Bloomberg

“Under President Xi’s rule, the Chinese Communist Party is heading even faster and further in the wrong direction,” Esper told an audience of key European leaders.

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