On March 7, 2024, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a press conference for the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), in Beijing.
During the “two sessions”, the annual meeting of the national legislature and top political advisory body, he outlined Beijing’s positions on major global issues ranging from Gaza, Ukraine War, and Taiwan independence.
Below is a breakdown of Yi’s key points:
Gaza
China has been sympathetic and supportive towards the Palestinian cause and a two -solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Wang reiterated his government’s demands for an “immediate ceasefire“, and called the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza “a tragedy for humankind and a disgrace for civilization.”
“The international community must act urgently, making an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities an overriding priority, and ensuring humanitarian relief an urgent moral responsibility,” he said.
Taiwan
Wang stated that anyone who advocates “Taiwan independence” on the island will be held responsible. He also stated that anyone who supports or conspires to support “Taiwan independence” is undermining China’s sovereignty and that countries who insist on keeping formal relations with Taiwan are meddling in China’s domestic affairs.
Furthermore, he pointed out that after the two elections in the Taiwan region in 2024, more than 180 nations and international organizations reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle, indicating that the idea has gained support from all corners of the international community.
US-China relations
Wang told the press, “If there is conflict or confrontation between two major countries like US and China, the consequences will be unimaginable.” Although he said relations have improved since the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden last year, Washington’s misperception about China still lingers. “If the US says one thing and does another, where is its credibility as a major country? If it gets jittery whenever it hears the word China, where is its confidence as a major country?” he said.
Wang emphasized that the US should take an objective and rational view of China’s development, and match its words with actions to honor the commitments on China-U.S. relations.
Ukraine
On Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Wang stressed Beijing’s fair stance on the conflict, and stated that China sought peace talks and voiced concerns over escalation, warning that “without the start of peace talks, misunderstandings and misjudgments will build up, leading to a greater crisis.”
While still maintaining friendly ties with Moscow, Wang praised the “strategic guidance” of China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin for strengthening the relationship to the point that bilateral trade hit a record $240bn last year. Wang noted that Russian natural gas was fuelling Chinese households, while Chinese cars were driving on Russian roads.
South China Sea
He said differences in the disputed waters should be properly managed through dialogue and that disputes should be resolved through negotiations between claimant states. Wang did not mention any specific country in his response but warned that countries outside the region should not become disrupters in the South China Sea.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China has found the Chinese way to address hotspot issues featuring commitments to non-interference in internal affairs, to political settlement, to objectivity and impartiality, and a commitment to addressing both symptoms and root causes.
