Spy balloon, war in Ukraine and Taiwan – that’s what China says at the security conference Biden seeks talks about launching the balloon – China responds coolly

China’s top politician Wang Yi is currently in Munich at the security conference. He represented the Chinese opinion on various pressing issues – e.g. the spy balloon, the Taiwan issue or the Ukraine issue.

Wang Yi to the spy balloon

Wang has sharply criticized the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon by US forces. “I would say that’s absurd and hysterical,” he said in a Q&A session on Saturday after his speech at the conference.

Nearly two weeks ago, the US military shot down a suspected spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina. The United States accuses China of spying on military installations. Beijing, on the other hand, speaks of a civilian research balloon that has gone off course. The incident added tension to the already strained relationship.

The US violated the Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation by shooting it down, Wang said. “We don’t accept that.” The United States would not have shown any strength in doing so. The opposite is the case. Wang accused the US of trying to distract from domestic political problems.

Wang Yi on the war in Ukraine

Wang announced a proposal for political negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. For a safer world, “the principles of the UN Charter are something we must uphold,” he said.

In addition, the Chinese criticized forces that, from his point of view, pursued geopolitical interests and placed less importance on the suffering of the people of Ukraine. Whether this is a criticism of Western states’ military support for Ukraine remained unclear, just as he avoided a precise assessment of Russia’s responsibility.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China would be obliged to use its influence to secure world peace.

Wang Yi to Taiwan

In the conflict over Taiwan, he remained steadfast. “Taiwan has never been an independent country and will not be in the future. This is the status quo of the Taiwan issue,” Wang said. Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. “It is not China that wants to change this status quo, but separatist forces in Taiwan.”

Wang accused those calling for Taiwan’s independence of undermining peace and stability. “That is why we must oppose Taiwan’s independence and separatism and uphold the one China principle,” he added. “We reiterate the importance of preserving sovereignty and territorial integrity. And we hope the same goes for China.”

China considers Taiwan part of the People’s Republic and threatens to conquer it. The island republic, which has a population of 23 million, considered itself independent for a long time and was never part of the communist People’s Republic established in 1949. China has been increasing pressure on the island for months with maneuvers and deployment of naval vessels and military aircraft in the immediate vicinity of Taiwan.

This is how the US and Germany react to Wang Yi

The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcoming the Chinese announcement of a peace plan for Ukraine. It is good if China “sees a responsibility to stand up for world peace”. When asked what opportunities she gave such a Chinese peace push, Baerbock added, “When you work for peace all year round, you have to take every opportunity for peace.”

Baerbock said that the day before at a meeting with Wang Yi in Munich, she had spoken intensively about what a just peace means: “Not that the aggressor, the aggressor, is rewarded, but that one stands up for international law and for those who have been attacked .”

The USA at the Munich Security Conference called on China not to support Russia with arms shipments for the war against Ukraine. Any move by China in this direction would “reward aggression, continue killing and further undermine a rules-based order,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a speech on Saturday.

“We are concerned that Beijing has deepened its ties with Moscow since the start of the war.” As for US aid to Ukraine, Harris said it will be provided “for as long as necessary”.

(sda/dpa)