UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and China clashed again at the United Nations on Wednesday, trading barbs over the coronavirus pandemic and Taiwan..
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of continuing to try to block an independent investigation into the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19. He said China has refused to provide access to key information and has tried to spread disinformation about the investigation..
“The world needs to know how this pandemic began so we can better prevent the next one,” Blinken said. “China continues to resist an independent, transparent, international investigation into the origins of the virus, and it continues to spread disinformation about the investigation.”.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded by accusing the United States of politicizing the pandemic and trying to blame China for its own failures. He said the U.S. has refused to cooperate with the World Health Organization’s investigation into the origins of the virus and has tried to undermine the organization..
“The United States keeps politicizing the pandemic, stigmatizing China, and shifting the blame to others,” Wang said. “It has refused to cooperate with the WHO in tracing the origin of the virus and has even tried to undermine the organization’s role and authority.”.
The two sides also clashed over Taiwan, with Blinken reiterating the U.S. commitment to the “one China” policy but also expressing concern about China’s increasing military pressure on the island..
“We are committed to our one China policy, but we also have an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Blinken said. “We are concerned by China’s provocative military activities near Taiwan, and we urge Beijing to cease its pressure and coercion against Taiwan.”.
Wang responded by saying that Taiwan is an “inalienable part” of China and that the U.S. should stop interfering in China’s internal affairs..
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” Wang said. “The one China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relations. The U.S. should abide by its commitments and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.”.
The clashes between the U.S. and China at the UN come as tensions between the two countries have been rising in recent months. The two sides have been at odds over a range of issues, including trade, human rights, and the South China Sea..
U.S. President Joe Biden has said that he wants to have a “competitive but not conflictual” relationship with China. However, it is clear that there are significant differences between the two countries on a range of issues, and it is unclear how they will be able to resolve them peacefully..
