The Guardian (USA)

Xi Jinping warns of 'new cold war' if US keeps up protection­ism

- Larry Elliott Economics editor

China’s president, Xi Jinping, has sent out a warning to Joe Biden that he risks a new cold war if he continues with the protection­ist policies of his predecesso­r, Donald Trump.

In an address to the virtual World Economic Forum event, Xi called for a multilater­al approach to solving the economic crisis caused by Covid-19 and said the pandemic should not be used as an excuse to reverse globalisat­ion in favour of “decoupling and seclusion”.

Xi avoided mentioning either Biden or the US by name in his first speech since Trump left the White House last week but made it clear that China would not be dictated to by Washington.

“To build small circles or start a new cold war, to reject, threaten or intimidate others, to wilfully impose decoupling, supply disruption or sanctions, and to create isolation or estrangeme­nt will only push the world into division and even confrontat­ion” Xi said.

Repeating the defence of multilater­alism made when he attended the WEF in Davos four years ago, Xi said the alternativ­e was the law of the jungle. “No global problem can be solved by any one country alone. There must be global action, global response and global cooperatio­n.”

Biden has given no indication that he intends to soften Trump’s tough attitude towards Beijing and is set to announce a “buy American” procuremen­t policy to boost US manufactur­ing.

Xi said: “We should build an open world economy, uphold the multilater­al trading regime, discard discrimina­tory and exclusiona­ry standards, rules and systems, and take down barriers to trade, investment and technologi­cal exchanges.

“State-to-state relations should be coordinate­d and regulated through proper institutio­ns and rules. The strong should not bully the weak. Decisions should not be made by simply showing off strong muscles or waving a big fist.”

Xi also made it clear that China would not be swayed by criticism of its human rights record, which has focused recently on the crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong and the treatment of the Uighur population, described as “genocide” by Trump’s secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

“No two leaves in the world are identical, and no histories, cultures or social systems are the same. Each country is unique with its own history, culture and social system, and none is superior to the other”, Xi said.

“Difference in itself is no cause for alarm. What does ring the alarm is

arrogance, prejudice and hatred; it is the attempt to impose hierarchy on human civilisati­on or to force one’s own history, culture and social system upon others.”

 ?? Photograph: Pascal Bitz/WEF handout/EPA ?? China’s president, Xi Jinping, speaks at the World Economic Forum via video link.
Photograph: Pascal Bitz/WEF handout/EPA China’s president, Xi Jinping, speaks at the World Economic Forum via video link.

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