Chinese Foreign Ministry on US and Australia Checks: "Political and Economic Coercion Is a Characteristic of the United States"

Hua Chunying, Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eun-byeol] As the foreign ministers of the United States and Australia work to counter China, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by stating, "Political and economic coercion is a characteristic of the United States."

Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made this remark during a regular briefing on the 14th when asked about the joint response by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne toward China. She criticized, "The United States is a country that achieves its strategic goals through methods such as military intimidation, political isolation, economic sanctions, and technological blockades against the world."

She continued, "They economically coerce countries like Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela, and suppress other countries' advanced technologies under the pretext of national security," adding, "The Soviet Union's aviation industry, China's telecommunications industry, and advanced technology sectors are victims of U.S. intimidation."

She further emphasized, "Many people within the United States appeal that it is in the interest of both peoples for the U.S. and China to develop a healthy and stable relationship through dialogue and cooperation."

Specifically addressing Secretary Blinken's clear stance on jointly responding to China's pressure on Australia, she retorted, "Do you think Australia's interests come before those of the United States?" and sharply questioned, "I wonder since when U.S. policy shifted to prioritize Australia first."

Earlier, on the 13th (local time), after meeting with Minister Payne in Washington D.C., Secretary Blinken stated at a press conference, "The United States will not leave Australia alone regarding China's economic coercion," and added, "We have made it clear how such actions by China targeting its closest partners and allies hinder the improvement of U.S.-China relations."

Relations between China and Australia have deteriorated since 2018 when Australia banned Huawei's participation in its 5G network. The situation has steadily worsened since last year when Australia called for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Subsequently, China has applied economic pressure on Australia by officially restricting imports such as Australian wine, timber, and lobster, or by implementing non-tariff barriers.