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No time for US’ James Bond theatrics – let’s talk recoupling, China’s envoy Qin Gang says

  • Chinese ambassador tells Phoenix TV that the US’ cold war playbook should be left to Hollywood blockbusters
  • Trade frictions are normal – the key is how to deal with them, Qin says

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China and the US should sit down to sort out “decoupled” sectors to find ways to “recouple” them, Qin Gang says. Photo: AFP
Wendy Wuin Beijing

The US should stop drawing on its 007-style cold war playbook and sit down with China to talk about “recoupling” the two economies, according to China’s top diplomat in Washington.

Chinese ambassador Qin Gang made the call after the US Central Intelligence Agency launched a China Mission Centre on Thursday.

The centre is designed to respond to what CIA director William Burns says is “the most important geopolitical threat we face in the 21st century” – an “increasingly adversarial Chinese government”.

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US, Chinese diplomats’ meeting in Zurich paves way for continued talks

US, Chinese diplomats’ meeting in Zurich paves way for continued talks

In an interview with Chinese-language broadcaster Phoenix TV, Qin said Burns’ remark was “the most serious miscalculation” in bilateral relations.

“President Joe Biden also stated in his remarks at the UN General Assembly that the US is not seeking a new cold war. But shouldn’t the cold war playbook, travestied from 007 movies, be just left to Hollywood blockbusters?” he said, according to a transcript of the interview published on the Chinese embassy’s website on Saturday.

“Some people in the US, immersed in their delusions that they are James Bond, simply can’t resist the urge to act out their own drama. Haven’t they been worn out by such meaningless and harmful actions? Why not give themselves a break?”

Qin said both countries should “avoid miscommunication, miscalculation and unintended conflict” to put bilateral relations back on track.

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