China and Russia on Tuesday condemned President Donald Trump’s report on the US National Security Strategy, which he described as “the two rival forces”, criticizing the “Cold War mentality” and “imperialism” of the document.
The two countries’ response came a day after a report that included the US vision of the world, in which Beijing and Moscow were listed as rivals in the world for the influence of the United States.
“We are facing two rival forces, Russia and China, who are trying to undermine America’s influence, values and wealth,” the president said on Monday, after announcing that he wanted to create “big partnerships” with them.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Xuning said, “We urge the United States to stop deliberately distorting China’s strategic intentions and to abandon its outdated concepts such as the Cold War mentality.”
– Moscow later denounced the report –
“The imperialist nature of this document is clear, as is the refusal to abandon a unipolar world, a stubborn refusal,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The report on the security strategy contrasts with the friendly atmosphere that marked the first direct meeting of Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Vladimir Putin.
“China and Russia defy US power, influence and interests and seek to undermine American security and prosperity,” the document says.
– “Malicious Mug” –
The 68-page strategy accuses China of seeking to “remove the United States” from Asia. It includes a range of US grievances ranging from China stealing data to publishing “features of its authoritarian regime.”
“Contrary to our hopes, China has expanded its influence at the expense of the sovereignty of others,” the document says.
Beijing has vigorously defended its “peaceful development” and said “any report distorting facts or deliberately slandering will not produce a result.”
“China will not seek to grow at the expense of the interests of other countries,” she said at a press conference. “At the same time, we will not give up our legitimate rights and interests.”
Trump received a good reception on his first state visit to China in November and congratulated President Xi.
But relations between the two countries are still growing in controversial issues such as trade, as Washington has taken unprecedented steps to investigate and increase tariffs on goods made in China.
There are also US concerns over China’s military activities in the disputed South China Sea, while Washington angered Beijing over arms deals with Taiwan.
– A lighter tone towards Russia –
In his speech Monday after the report was published, Trump adopted a less harsh tone on Russia and praised the benefits of cooperation with Moscow in the fight against terrorism.
Trump said information from the CIA on a terrorist attack on a cathedral in St. Petersburg, Putin’s hometown, had prevented “thousands” from being killed.
Trump said in a speech in Washington on Monday that the Russians “managed to arrest these terrorists without any loss of life,” adding, “That’s how things should be.”
There is an investigation in the United States over relations between Trump’s campaign team and Russia and any possible complicity between those close to Trump and Moscow during the 2016 presidential election. The 45th president dismissed the charges as “false news.”
His new security strategy warns that Russian nuclear weapons are “the biggest existential threat to the United States.”
But the Kremlin spokesman said the report “has some positive points,” referring to “Washington’s desire to cooperate with Russia in areas that are compatible with the interests of the Americans.”
