China Blames US for Conflicts from Afghanistan to Iran - FARS

(FNA)- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the US of being “the source” of a series of conflicts in the world, seeking to present Beijing as a “defender” and “friendly neighbor” for countries in conflicts.

Addressing an international relations conference in the Chinese capital on Saturday, Wang listed a series of international conflicts – from Afghanistan to Iran – that he stated the US was directly responsible for, South China Morning Post reported.

Wang also said the “Indo-Pacific strategy” – a key plank of American foreign policy – was based on an outdated cold war mentality.

“The Indo-Pacific strategy ... was aimed at building an exclusive circle [of countries against China] in geopolitical conflicts. It is walking backwards in history and a repetition of a cold war mentality that should be swept into the rubbish,” he added.

Wang made the comments at the World Peace Forum organised by Tsinghua University and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, a government-run policy group.

On the sidelines of the forum, Wang moted China hoped to resume high-level dialogue with the United States, but that it “depends on whether the US is sincere”.

The Indo-Pacific strategy was part of the Donald Trump administration’s plan to establish a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, largely to contain China. The Joe Biden administration has continued the approach but with greater focus on bringing in regional allies.

At the forum, Wang warned that China was determined to and capable of defending its interests.

“Today’s China is no longer the same country of 100 years ago,” he said, adding, “No individual or force should underestimate the determination and capacity of the Chinese people to uphold the country’s sovereignty, security, and development interests.”

At centennial celebrations for the Communist Party last week, President Xi Jinping pledged that foreign powers would “get their heads bashed” if they tried to bully China.

Xi has also pledged that China’s role in the global stage will be based on cooperation, non-confrontation, openness, seeking mutual benefit and opposing a zero-sum game, hegemonism and power politics.

Wang underlined the approach by calling for “peaceful dialogue” to resolve world conflicts that he said were stirred up by the US.

“The US, as the origin of problems in Afghanistan, should be responsible for making sure the transition in the country will be stable. The US cannot evade responsibility, and cannot cause instability or war by withdrawing troops,” Wang added.

“As friendly neighbours that share the flow of mountain ranges and rivers, China is determined to support the peaceful transition in Afghanistan,” he underscored.

On nuclear issues, Wang stated, “The US should reflect on its decades-old policies of making military threats and putting pressure on North Korea.”

He also urged the US to take the first step to lift unilateral sanctions on Tehran to show its commitment to the Iran nuclear deal, which Washington withdrew from under Trump.

Wang criticised the US for encouraging “separatists” in Taiwan, and accused “foreign forces” of colluding with people in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

On the conflicts in Myanmar, Israel and Palestine, and the [Persian] Gulf region, Wang stressed that China would continue to support communication with relevant parties on these issues.