China has hit back at President Donald Trump’s decision to brand the country a competitor, and has called on the United States to give up its “cold war mentality” as it will harm both nations, the South China Morning Post reports.
Trump’s speech has been widely interpreted among Chinese diplomatic observers as a sign that Beijing’s attempts to steer China-US relations in a more harmonious direction have failed, according to the SCMP. But analysts also believe that Beijing will be careful not to act in a way that could generate further strife between the two sides.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Tuesday that China had the right to decide its own development path. “Any country, or any report, which distorts the facts, or maliciously slanders will do so in vain,” said Hua. “No one should be under the illusion that China will swallow a bitter pill that affects its interests.”
“We call on the US to stop distorting China’s strategic intentions and to give up its cold war mentality and outdated concept that this is a zero-sum game – or it will end up causing damage to both sides,” Hua added.