Rumours China aims to replace US as top tech power ‘malicious slander’ say foreign ministry

CHINA is not seeking to confront or replace the US as the world’s top technological power but will fight back against “malicious slander” and attacks from Washington, its foreign ministry has said.

Hua Chunying responded on Friday to a series of recent accusations from the Trump administration.

She said China’s chief concern is improving the livelihoods of its citizens and maintaining global peace and stability, despite what critics say is an increasingly aggressive foreign policy.

“As an independent sovereign state, China has the right to safeguard its own sovereignty, security and development interests, to defend the achievements made by the Chinese people with hard work, to refuse any bullying and injustice against China, and to fight back against malicious slander and attacks by the US against China,” Hua told reporters at a daily briefing.

Her comments came in response to a speech on Thursday by Attorney General William Barr in which he cautioned American business leaders against promoting policies favourable to Beijing.

He said that at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic China not only dominated the market on protective equipment, exposing American dependence on Beijing, but also hoarded supplies and blocked producers from exporting them to countries in need.

Barr also accused hackers linked to the Chinese Government of targeting American universities and businesses to steal research related to coronavirus vaccine development. He levelled the allegation against Beijing hours after Western agencies made similar claims against Russia.

Numerous allies of President Donald Trump have issued strongly worded messages over China in recent days, coming at a time when bilateral relations have fallen to their lowest point in decades over issues from accusations of technology theft to China’s claims in the South China Sea.