‘Political virus’ is spreading in US along with Covid-19, says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
- Minister uses annual press conference to reach out to friends and neighbours, but hits out at ‘political forces’ in America that he says are undermining relationship
- Despite criticisms of US, Wang insists Washington and Beijing should look for ways to avoid a new cold war
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday both China and the United States needed to avoid a new cold war as he blamed ”a political virus” spreading in Washington for their worsening relationship.
Wang Yi made the criticisms in his annual press conference, where he took a warmer tone towards neighbours such as Japan and South Korea, and sought to bolster ties with China’s partners in Asia and Africa
But in spite of his comments about America, Wang also stressed that Beijing and Washington should still look for ways to cooperate and avoid a new cold war.
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US political forces pushing toward ‘new cold war’, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says
“Regrettably, not only is the coronavirus sweeping [the world], a political virus is also spreading in the US. This political virus seizes every opportunity to smear China,” he said.
“We need to be alert to efforts by some political forces in America to hijack China-US relations and who try to push the two countries towards a so-called ‘new cold war’.