Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said the U.S. and China are on course for “conflict and confrontation†if the U.S. doesn’t change its current policies towards China. During his first news conference, Qin said that the U.S.’s China policy has “entirely deviated from the rational and sound track.” Chinese President Xi echoed Qin’s remarks by accusing the U.S. and allies of the “containment, encirclement and suppression of China.” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby responded saying, “The president believes those tensions obviously have to be recognized, but can be worked through. And we again seek competition not conflict.†Tensions between the U.S. and China have been heightened since a Chinese balloon violated U.S. airspace.
