The United States put itself at risk of a clash with Beijing by asserting that Washington was not looking for a fight and that there had been no shift in U.S.-Chinese ties.
In response to China’s foreign minister’s warning that Washington must alter its “distorted” perspective or risk conflict, John Kirby, the White House’s spokesman for national security, issued a statement.
“We want to compete with China strategically. As Kirby told reporters, “We don’t seek conflict.
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“We want to preserve it at that level, but we also want to compete with China and win that competition.”
Kirby asserted that the United States respected the “one-China policy” and did not favor changing the current situation with regard to Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province.
Moreover, Kirby pleaded with China not to help Russia’s conflict with Ukraine by giving it military aid. In the past, US officials have voiced their worries about the possibility of receiving such assistance.
