China plays down Rex Tillerson's remarks, says US should shed its 'biased views' against Beijing

Beijing: China on Thursday asked the US to shed its “biased views” and work with Beijing to uphold the momentum for a steady and sound relations, a day after the top American diplomat lashed out at the Chinese model of funding infrastructure projects and developmental activities. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang also said that Beijing is “happy” over the development of ties between India and US as long as they are conducive to regional peace. [caption id=“attachment_3766429” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang. Image courtesy: fmprc.gov.cn[/caption] In a major India-policy speech on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had highlighted the need for collaborating with New Delhi on offering alternative model of financing infrastructure projects and economic development to that of China whom he described as “predatory economics”. He had lashed out at the Chinese model of funding infrastructure projects and developmental activities, saying it does not create jobs and results in enormous levels of debt. Playing down Tillerson’s criticism of China and his remarks to deepen ties with India, Lu told reporters in Beijing that the US should take a more objective look at China’s development. “China steadfastly upheld the international order with the UN at the core and based on the purposes and principles of UN charter we will firmly uphold the multilateralism yet we will also firmly safeguard our own interests and rights,” he said while responding to a question on Tillerson’s remarks. The US diplomat had branded China a “predatory rule breaker” specially in the South China Sea and leaving countries in debt. China hopes that Washington can look China’s development in an “objective way” as well as China’s role in the international community, Lu said. The US should “abandon its biased views on China and work with it towards the same goal to uphold the momentum for a steady and sound China relations”, Lu said. “We are happy to see the development of relations between these India and the US as long as they are conducive to the peaceful development of the region and enhancement of relations among the regional countries,” he said. Tillerson’s strong comments coincided with China’s once-in-a-five-year congress of the ruling Communist Party of China which is set to endorse a second term for President Xi Jinping. On 17 October, a top official of the CPC told media in Beijing that Chinese firms have invested about $560 billion in different countries abroad most of it was stated to project financing. “Between 2013 and 2016 Chinese companies have invested about $560 billion overseas, paid over $100 billion in various kind of taxes to the host countries and created millions of jobs for the local communities,” Tuo Zhen, spokesman of 19th Congress of the CPC said, refuting reports that China has been bringing its own workers and not hiring locally to execute several infrastructure projects that China is funding under the more than $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).