Published: Less than 20 min ago
Chinese President Xi Jinping condemns the “US-led oppression” of China by the West. The president said this during a speech in Beijing on Monday, according to the state-run New China News Agency (Xinhua).
“Western countries, led by the United States, are engaged in containing, encircling and suppressing China, which has led to unprecedented challenges to our country’s development,” said Xi Jinping, speaking at the opening of the annual party meeting.
The president added that China must “show courage and the will to fight when the country is now facing major and complex changes both within the country and in the outside world”.
In recent years, Beijing and Washington have been at odds regarding trade, human rights and also in several other areas. The relationship between the countries got even worse when the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon in February.
The balloon incident led to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceling a planned trip to China.