Beijing contests notion China-US relations must strictly be competitive

Beijing on Wednesday expressed opposition to defining all of China-United States relations through competition alone and urged Washington to adopt an objective and rational perception of Beijing after the US said it seeks competition, not conflict with China.

US President Joe Biden made clear in his State of the Union address on Tuesday the US "seeks competition, not conflict" with China and he was committed to working with China "where it can advance American interests and benefit the world".

"China does not shy away or flinch from competition, but we are against defining China-US relations with competition alone and using competition as an excuse to smear others," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a daily news briefing.

Mao also slammed acts of exploiting competition as a pretext to suppress other countries' legitimate development rights and undermine global supply and industrial chains, saying such moves are not how a responsible major country should behave.

Noting China-US relations is not a zero-sum game, Mao said China has always held a successful Beijing and Washington represent opportunities, not challenges to each other.

"The world is broad enough to accommodate the respective development and common prosperity of both China and the US," Mao said.

As sound and stable China-US relations serves the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries, she said it also conforms to the expectations of the international community.

"China will act on the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to handle its relations with the US", Mao said, adding the country will stay firm to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Mao urged the US to adopt an objective and rational perception of China, saying Washington should follow a positive and practical China policy to work with Beijing to promote China-US relations back to healthy and stable development.

Also at the briefing, Mao stressed Washington using force to attack an unintended entry of a Chinese unmanned airship into US airspace, a vessel of a civilian nature, was unacceptable and irresponsible, saying China has lodged stern representations.

"Exaggerating and hyping up 'China threats' is not conducive to improving China-US mutual trust and bilateral ties, nor can it make the US safer," Mao added.