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China's Xi Warns Against Unilateralism 04/20 06:08
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for more equitable management
of global affairs and, in an implicit rejection of U.S. dominance, said
governments shouldn't impose rules on others.
BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for more
equitable management of global affairs and, in an implicit rejection of U.S.
dominance, said governments shouldn't impose rules on others.
Xi's speech at an economic forum comes amid rising tension with China's
neighbors and Washington over its strategic ambitions and demands for a bigger
role in making trade and other rules.
Without mentioning the United States, Xi criticized "unilateralism of
individual countries" and warned against decoupling, a reference to fears
U.S.-Chinese tension over technology and security will split industries and
markets into separate, less productive spheres with incompatible standards.
"International affairs should be handled by everyone through consultation,"
Xi said by video link to the Boao Forum for Asia on the southern island of
Hainan. "Rules made by one or more countries should not be forced upon others."
Xi called for stronger cooperation in research on coronavirus vaccines and
steps to make them available to developing countries.
Xi's comments reflected the ruling Communist Party's desire for global
influence to match China's status as the second-largest economy and frustration
at what party leaders see as U.S. efforts to block its ambitions.
Those sentiments have been fueled by sanctions imposed by former President
Donald Trump that block access to U.S. processor chips and other technology for
Chinese tech giant Huawei and some other companies.
Some of Xi's comments clashed with Beijing's stepped-up military activity in
the South China Sea and other areas where its territorial claims conflict with
those of Japan, the Philippines, India and other countries.
"No matter how far it develops, China will never seek hegemony, expand, seek
spheres of influence or engage in an arms race," Xi said.
China's military spending is the second-highest after the United States.
Beijing is developing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, submarines, stealth
fighters and other weapons to extend its military reach.
The annual Boao forum, founded in 2001, is modeled on the Davos gathering of
business leaders in Switzerland.
Xi warned against decoupling, a stance that clashes with Beijing's promotion
of its own standards for telecoms, high-speed rail and other fields and
pressure on companies to use Chinese suppliers instead of global sources, even
if that increases costs.
Speeding up a two-decade-old campaign to make China self-reliant in
technology has been declared this year's top economic priority by the ruling
party.
"Building walls and decoupling violate economic and market rules, harming
others," Xi said.
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