China: US is starting a new Cold War

Tensions between China and the United States stir as Beijing is compelled to account for its alleged inaction against the novel coronavirus pandemic. Whilst supporting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) war against the COVID-19 pandemic, China applauded the body for its “ good job” but the Chinese foreign minister hastened to accuse the United States of pushing the two nations to the brink of a “ new Cold War”. What happened? In a news conference on Sunday, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed, “This dangerous attempt to turn back the wheel of history will undo the fruits of decades long China-U.S. cooperation, dampen American’s own development prospects, and put world stability and prosperity in jeopardy.” He also added, “ It’s time for the US to give up its wishful thinking of changing China or stopping 1.4 billion people’s historic march toward modernisation.”Following the outbreak of the coronavirus, US-China relations have plummeted with the Trump and Xi Jinping administrations engaging in a war of words, accusing one another of flawed transparency. However, the Chinese government expressed its deepest sympathies for the US, where the aggregate death toll is expected to outnumber 100,000 – the highest number in any nation. The Foreign Ministry also resolved, “ What China and the United States need to do the most is to first learn from each other and share their experience in fighting against the epidemic, and help each country fight it.” Also read: Minister for Punjab School Education issues ban on textbook containing names of Christmas, Halloween, New Years