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Senior diplomatic officials from China and Russia on Friday reprimanded the United States over a range of issues ranging from multilateral agreements to sanctions policy at the United Nations, describing Washington as a withdrawal from global commitments as their own countries reinforced their commitment world.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi were among the speakers scheduled towards the end of a week of speeches by world leaders at the US General Assembly. United. Neither the Russians Vladimir Putin nor the Chinese Xi Jinping have come to the annual meeting this year, sending their main diplomats.
The two men spoke during the week due to the outbreak of tension between the two countries and the United States. The United States and Russia clashed at the Security Council over international policy towards Iran and North Korea, while President Trump Wednesday accused China of Interfering in US elections by targeting voters with newspaper ads – a new degree of friction with Beijing.
Among the two diplomats, Mr. Wang showed more restraint in his speech to the General Assembly, while Mr. Lavrov at a press conference and in his speech delivered by the President. UN against Mr. Trump and said his relations with the United States were at an unprecedented level. low.
"President Trump says sovereignty is the main thing and all these multilateral things are secondary," Lavrov said at his press conference. "If the United States is so committed to sovereignty, it should not interfere in the affairs of other countries."
Messers. Trump and Putin met in July in Helsinki at a summit under scrutiny.
But Lavrov, who assigns US policy toward Iran and Syria, said the US was "politically blackmail, economic pressure and brutal force." Russia supported the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a prolonged civil war bombardment campaigns.
Lavrov indirectly referred to the US intelligence community's findings that Russia had been ingested in the 2016 US election, denying any interference and noting that Mr. Trump had distinguished China – and not Russia – for his electoral interference. China has denied the accusation.
In his speech, Wang vigorously defended China's actions on the world stage a few days after the US imposed $ 200 billion tariff on Chinese products and after Trump had accused
"China has always maintained the international order and pursued multilateralism," Wang said. "In the face of new developments and daunting challenges, China will keep its commitment and remain a champion of multilateralism."
The Trump administration insisted that China had violated the United States through unfair trade practices, theft and the forced transfer of intellectual property and espionage. The United States has now imposed tariffs of $ 250 billion on Chinese products, about half of China's imports into America. China has responded with tariffs on $ 110 billion worth of US goods.
"With regard to trade frictions, China advocates an appropriate rule-based settlement and consensus through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing," Wang said. "China will not be blackmailed or give in to pressure."
Wang also dismissed criticism of China's actions and said the communist country is part of the global economic system.
The Chinese government on Monday issued a white paper accusing the United States of "shamelessly preaching unilateralism, protectionism, and economic hegemony."
However, Wang refused to condemn the United States by name, preferring to adopt the values of international cooperation.
"What we need to do is replace confrontation with cooperation and coercion through consultation," Wang said. "We have to stay together as a big family instead of forming closed circles."
The only direct mention made by Mr. Wang in the United States was to praise his rapprochement with North Korea. Nevertheless, he proposed implicit criticisms of US policy. Wang said China is committed to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Iran nuclear deal. The Trump administration has withdrawn from both.
Write to Farnaz Fassihi at [email protected] and Chris Gordon at [email protected]
