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.