In fresh diplomatic push, China calls for cooperation over confrontation

ANKARA

China's top diplomat on Tuesday said that Beijing chose cooperation over confrontation and peace over war amid tensions with the US, and in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a symposium in Beijing on the "international situation and China’s foreign relations," Wang Yi said Beijing "firmly" chose "openness over isolation."

Without naming any country, Wang said that Beijing chose "peace over war" and "justice over power politics."

"(China chose) multilateralism over unilateralism (and) solidarity over division," Wang said, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

Tensions between China and the US continue despite meetings at senior-most levels, including between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden last November.

On Sunday, Beijing sanctioned five US defense industry companies in response to US arms sales to Taiwan.

In the South China Sea, China is also in dispute with the Philippines over claims of overlapping maritime territory.

Militaries of China and the US have also engaged closely as the two sides have flown planes and sailed naval vessels in close proximity.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid