China’s President warns against Cold War-era tensions in Asia Pacific

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s comments come ahead of an upcoming virtual meeting with US counterpart Joe Biden.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against returning to Cold War-era tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, urging global cooperation ahead of a virtual meeting with his US counterpart.

In a recorded video message to a CEO forum on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Xi said on Wednesday that attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on geopolitical grounds were bound to fail.

“The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era,” he said.

The Chinese president’s remarks were an apparent reference to US efforts with regional allies and partners including the Quad grouping with India, Japan, and Australia, to blunt what they see as China’s growing coercive economic and military influence.

Tensions between China and the US have soared in recent years, with Washington raising concerns about Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea as well as its stance on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan. Amid the friction, the two sides began talks to improve communications and in October, officials announced that Xi and US President Joe Biden will hold a virtual meeting before the end of the year.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES