China urges Biden to lift ‘unreasonable’ restrictions

The Chinese government is urging President Biden to remove what it says are unfair restrictions on diplomatic talks between the two nations.  

“It is hoped that the United States and China will meet each other halfway and lift the various unreasonable restrictions placed on Sino-U.S. cooperation to date as soon as possible, and not create new obstacles artificially,” the Chinese government’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi said at a news conference this weekend, according to Reuters. 

Last week, Biden cited tensions with China as one of the U.S. biggest challenges in the foreign policy arena in the coming years, Reuters reported. 

Wang dismissed hostilities between the U.S. and China over Taiwan and other alleged human rights abuses as “baseless accusations and smears.”

“The U.S. should realise this as soon as possible, otherwise the world will continue to experience instability,” he said. 

The Chinese diplomat pointed to what he said what the U.S. history of human rights abuses when pressed about reported work camps for Muslim Uyghur in the country. 

“When it comes to ‘genocide’, most people think of North American Indians in the 16th century, African slaves in the 19th century, Jews in the 20th century, and the Australian aborigines who are still fighting today,” Wang said. “The so-called ‘genocide’ in Xinjiang is ridiculously absurd. It is a rumour with ulterior motives and a complete lie.”