Xi Jinping warns of climate of “cold war” in Asia-Pacific zone – RT en français | Local News

A few days before a summit with his American counterpart Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping estimated that relations between China and the United States were currently “at a critical historic moment”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on November 11 of the emergence of a climate of “cold war” in the Asia-Pacific region while tensions continue to increase between Beijing and Washington, especially around Taiwan. As a virtual summit with United States President Joe Biden approaches, Xi Jinping also ruled that all countries in the region should work together to face common challenges, from the Covid-19 pandemic. to trade, including climate issues.

“Attempts to draw ideological lines or form small groups based on geopolitics are doomed to failure. The Asia-Pacific region cannot and must not fall back into the confrontations and divisions of the Cold War, ”he said during a virtual conference on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (Apec ).

These statements come a few hours after the surprise announcement by the United States and China, at the Glasgow summit, to jointly redouble their efforts to fight against global warming. The Chinese leader did not expressly mention this agreement, but assured that all countries could “embark on the path of sustainable development with low carbon emissions.” “Together we can pave the way for a greener future,” he said.

The two countries have everything to gain in cooperation

The American and Chinese leaders should “soon” meet virtually, according to the Secretary of State of the United States Antony Blinken. But although the Biden administration has identified the environment as a possible middle ground between China and the United States, tensions are mounting in the Asia-Pacific region.

Beijing has stepped up its military activities near Taiwan, which it considers to be one of its provinces. In early October, a record number of Chinese planes entered the island’s air defense identification area. In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on November 10 that the United States will ensure that Taiwan can defend itself to prevent anyone “trying to disrupt the status quo by force.”

The waters of the South China Sea at the center of the game

China also claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea, through which billions of dollars in maritime trade pass each year, rejecting competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and from Vietnam.

In this context, the United States, Great Britain and Australia sealed in September a defense alliance allowing Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines using American technology. Even though delivery is not expected for several years and China is not explicitly cited, the announcement angered Beijing and, separately, triggered a major diplomatic incident with France to whom the contract on the submarines were originally promised.

But the world’s second-largest economy had already taken a step towards its rival on the evening of November 9. “The relationship between China and the United States is currently at a critical historical moment. The two countries have everything to gain in cooperation and everything to lose in confrontation, ”Xi said, according to an embassy statement.