Barely reappointed for a third term, Chinese President Xi Jinping blows hot and cold. Offensive, he is toughening his tone like never before against Western countries “led by the United States”, accused of “containment” and “encirclement” of his country. And asks his army to become a “Great Wall of Steel”. If Washington persists in its attitude, China is ready to blow up “the safeguards” which prevent the relationship between the two superpowers from derailing, even added its new Minister of Foreign Affairs. The message is clear, while bilateral tensions are at their highest after the affair of the Chinese “spy” balloon shot down off the American coast: Beijing is not afraid of “conflict”.
A speech intended to push the United States to release its pressure – Washington imposes drastic restrictions on the export of semiconductor components to China; and strengthens its military alliances notably via Aukus (partnership with Australia and Great Britain to build nuclear-powered submarines). While mobilizing the population in a period of economic difficulties. In the immediate future, however, China has an interest in stability with its rival to restart growth – even if it is preparing for a “confrontation”.
“More Dangerous Situation”
“Beijing has an increasingly negative perception of Sino-American relations, underlines Zhao Tong, researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The regime fears that the United States will only accelerate its policy of global containment of China through technological warfare and support for Taiwan”. In his eyes, the increased risk of a serious clash “is perhaps the only way to worry the United States and to get them to be less hostile towards China”, continues this Chinese expert, this which, according to him, makes the situation “much more dangerous than before”.
At the same time, Beijing is increasingly seeking to compete with the world’s leading power on the international stage. His strategy? Embody the camp of peace against that of war – supposed to be represented by Washington, including in Ukraine. The very recent rapprochement agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, concluded under the aegis of Beijing, constitutes in this respect a diplomatic success in an area historically under American influence.
China also wants to impose itself as a mediator in the war in Ukraine. Presented last month, his peace plan was greeted with skepticism by Westerners, with Americans suspecting Beijing of considering supplying arms to Russia. But Xi Jinping is preparing, according to the wall street journal, to visit his “friend” Vladimir Putin in Moscow, whom he supports economically and diplomatically, and to meet in stride – virtually – with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for the first time since the start of the conflict. To be credible, he could start by condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine and give up on invading Taiwan…