'Hegemony or territorial expansion is simply not in the Chinese DNA': China tells US

Beijing/Washington, Jul 26 (PTI) desire to seek hegemony or territorial expansion is "simply t in Chinese DNA", Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng told his American counterpart Wendy Sherman on Monday.

Xie made remarks while meeting with visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Sherman in rastern port city of Tianjin to discuss ways to set terms for "responsible manment" of strained ties between Beijing and Washington.

Xie said that China-US relationship is w in a stalemate and faces serious difficulties. Fundamentally, it is because some Americans portray China as an “imagined enemy", he said.

"It seems as if by making China an “imagined enemy", a national sense of purpose would be reignited in US," he said.

Xie told Sherman that Chinese believe that one must t do to ors what one does t like to be done to himself.

" desire to seek hegemony or territorial expansion is simply t in Chinese DNA. And China has never coerced any country. China responds to foreign interference with legitimate and lawful countermeasures.

" aim is to defend legitimate rights and interests of country and uphold international equity and justice. China has never gone to ors' doorsteps to provoke trouble. Neir has China ever stretched its arm into households of ors, still less has China ever occupied any inch of or countries' territory," Xie told Sherman.

Xie's statement comes amid growing concerns in Indo-Pacific region on China'saggressive actions and territorial disputes with neighbouring countries, including India.

In Washington, US Department of State said Sherman and Chinese State Councilor Wang had a frank and open discussion about a range of issues, demonstrating importance of maintaining open lines of communication between our two countries.

"y discussed ways to set terms for responsible manment of U.S-China relationship. Deputy Secretary underscored that United States welcomes stiff competition between our countries—and that we intend to continue to strengn our own competitive hand—but that we do t seek conflict with People's Republic of China (PRC)," statement said.

Sherman raised concerns in private about a "range of PRC actions that run counter to our values and interests and those of our allies and partners, and that undermine international rules-based order," it said.

In particular, she raised America's concerns about human rights, including Beijing’s anti-democratic crackdown in Hong Kong; ongoing gecide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang; abuses in Tibet; and curtailing of media access and freedom of press.

She also spoke about our concerns about Beijing’s conduct in cyber; across Taiwan Strait; and in East and South China Seas, press release said.

Sherman also reiterated concerns about China's unwillingness to cooperate with World Health Organization and allow a second phase investigation in PRC into COVID-19’s origins.

At same time, she affirmed importance of cooperation in areas of global interest, such as climate crisis, counternarcotics, nproliferation, and regional concerns including rth Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and Myanmar, it said.

Sherman is most senior US official to visit China in months. US President Joe Biden has taken a hard-line approach towards China, especially on issues like human rights and sanctions.

Her visit is being viewed here as a preparatory step for first meeting with Biden and his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.

Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry's press release pointed out that Xie told Sherman that by demonising China, US could somehow shift domestic public discontent over political, ecomic and social issues and blame Beijing for its own structural problems.

US keeps making an issue with China. It is as if US side has thing to talk about except about China. "We urge United States to change its highly misguided mindset and dangerous policy," release quoted Xie as saying.

"It is United States, t anybody else, who is "inventor, and patent and intellectual property owner of coercive diplomacy," he said.

"It is United States who has engd in broad unilateral sanctions, long-arm jurisdiction and interference in or countries' internal affairs," Xie said.

US tion of “engaging or countries from a position of strength" is just ar version of big bullying small and “might is right”. This is pure coercive diplomacy, senior Chinese diplomat added. PTI AKJ AKJ