(The Post News)– China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has rebuked United States President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, warning that if all nations focused only on their own interests, the world would be plunged into the “law of the jungle.” Wang made the comments during a question at a press conference in Beijing, where he responded to a question from CNN’s Steven Jiang on how Trump’s confrontational style of dealing with the world would impact the world.
“There are more than 190 countries in the world,” Wang asserted. “If all countries follow ‘my country first’ and seek power regardless, smaller and weaker countries will be losers, and international norms and order would be very much harmed,” he added. Wang’s remarks come at a very timely juncture as the US and China are locked in a hot trade war, with the US recently slapping new tariffs on Chinese products.
Wang, a veteran diplomat of China and an elder counsellor of President Xi Jinping, said China would keep defeating US efforts to pressure or suppress China. “No country should believe that it can suppress China and have a good relationship with China,” Wang said. Wang also criticized the United States for abandoning international obligations in pursuit of self-interested policies that challenged global stability. “A great country should be respectful of its international commitments and not bully the weak,” he said.
In addition to talking about the increasing trade tensions, Wang also touched on the subject of the war in Ukraine, which has been a contentious issue that has generated a lot of international interest. While the US has increased its pressure on Russia, Beijing has remained committed to a strategic partnership with Moscow, boasting of its position against NATO expansion in the region. China was still neutral regarding the Ukraine crisis, Wang stated, but called on all parties to seek peace. “No country should pursue its security by others’ insecurity,” he declared, referring to Washington’s intervention in the conflict.
Wang’s press conference came on the sidelines of China’s annual “two sessions” gathering, which includes the country’s legislature and highest political advisory body. The summit, also considered China’s platform for articulating its view of the world, also provided Wang an opportunity to present China as a stable, reliable friend in a highly uncertain world. “China is a country of stability,” he insisted, presenting the nation as a stabilising force against the chaos and uncertainty brought about by the foreign policy of the Trump administration.
The foreign minister also took the chance to denounce the US’s treatment of Gaza after President Trump’s contentious suggestion to assume ownership of the area. Wang was unequivocal in his endorsement of Palestinian autonomy, declaring that Gaza “belongs to the Palestinian people.” He also declared that China would be supportive of any peacemaking initiatives that kept with the vision of Arab leaders for the area.
Wang’s statement also referred to the rapid technological advancement of Chinese companies like DeepSeek, which has made international headlines for creating AI models as advanced as those of US competitors despite sanctions that aimed to keep China away from advanced technology. The foreign minister hailed the company’s feat as proof that China’s innovation would continue to be unstoppable despite external pressures. Wang asserted that invention occurs where there is suppression and breakthrough occurs where there is obstruction.
In the briefing, Wang continued to stress a more balanced international order, warning against the “selfish” pursuit of national interest that would undermine international peace and stability. He stressed that if countries forgot about the broader global context, the “law of the jungle” would be the new norm, subjecting smaller countries to exploitation and conflict.
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