Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the annual session of the Chinese parliament in Beijing, criticized his country’s policy of “containment” and “repression” that he says are being implemented by Western governments, especially the United States, state media reported.

“Western countries, led by the United States, are pursuing a comprehensive policy of containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which creates unprecedented challenges for the development of our country,” the head of state said, according to a telegram from the news agency. which aired on Monday evening.

Issues causing friction between Beijing and the West have multiplied in recent years, ranging from the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority to trade imbalances running through the case of Taiwan, technological dominance, and allegations of espionage. ..

They resulted in the imposition of Western sanctions, primarily American ones, especially in the field of trade, to which China responded with retaliatory measures.

“The external environment for China’s development has changed rapidly. Uncertain and unpredictable factors have increased significantly,” Xi said, according to New China.

At the same time, the country is facing numerous problems and difficulties, the Chinese President continued, referring in particular to the coronavirus pandemic and the pressure on the country’s economy, which has slowed down its growth.

The comments of the 69-year-old president, who is due to begin his unprecedented third term in office in a few days, contrast sharply with previous positions by China’s political leadership, which vaguely referred to “certain countries” while avoiding naming them.

Tensions in Sino-U.S. relations reached a new peak last month after the US Air Force shot down a Chinese balloon that Washington claimed was a spy balloon about to fly over key US military installations, which Washington vehemently denied. .

The case forced U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to postpone a planned visit to China with the theoretical goal of easing bilateral tensions over some key issues, notably the war in Ukraine, the two-state rivalry to reduce cutting-edge technology, and Taiwan.

The US and China are in a bitter fight over semiconductor manufacturing as the Americans ceded their dominance in the sector to the Chinese giant.

Citing a perceived threat to its national security, the US has stepped up sanctions against Chinese microchip makers in recent months, preventing them from acquiring American technology.

What’s more, Western parliamentarians, primarily Americans, have made repeated visits to Taiwan, an island Beijing considers a breakaway province of China destined to reunite with the mainland in the future, deepening China’s anger.

Source: RES-IPE