China warns conflict is inevitable unless U.S. changes course
NBCNov 25, 2022
The Facts
During his first public appearance as China's foreign minister at the country's annual parliamentary meeting on Tuesday, recently appointed Qin Gang warned that Washington and Beijing are on a path towards "conflict and confrontation" unless the US changes policy.
Qin alleged that the US engages in suppression and containment of China instead of fair competition, which he says China will not continue to tolerate. He added that the US erroneously “regards China as its primary rival" and "most consequential geopolitical challenge.”
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
Qin, who had established a reputation for being cautious, has quickly changed tune with his latest provocative rhetoric, which demonstrates Beijing's hegemonic global policies. US officials are worried about China's expansive political and economic goals and the possibility of war over Taiwan, with many rightly calling for efforts to curb Chinese influence abroad. Beijing is the one provoking conflict, as exhibited by this inflammatory speech.
Pro-China narrative
The US may say that it's establishing protections to prevent conflict with China, but in reality, it's just creating a practice where China isn't allowed to respond when it's attacked or slandered. Western nations, led by the US, have implemented unfair containment and suppression of Beijing, and any consequences that come from this provocation are Washington's to bear.
