China’s No. 2 leader, in debut of sorts on world stage at UN, echoes his nation’s concern about US
NEW YORK (AP) — China’s second-in-command sounded his nation’s oft-repeated alarm against aggressive and unilateral action in global politics, addressing world leaders Friday in a speech brimming with references that echoed long-standing concerns about the United States and the Trump administration in particular — and cast Beijing as a defender of the world order in an era of encroaching chaos.
Li Qiang’s remarks also reflected his own continuing rise to prominence after being elevated to premier more than two years ago.
Li made no major announcements and offered no specific policy revelations in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, as has typically been the practice of China in that forum in recent years. But his comments, in sweep and assertive tone, revealed several things — including what might be seen as his official debut on the world stage since his promotion 2½ years ago.
“Unilateralism and Cold War mentality are resurfacing,” Li said. “History keeps reminding us that when might dictates right, the world risks division and regression. Should the era of the law of the jungle return and the weak be left as prey to the strong, human society would face even more bloodshed and brutality.”
China and the United States, the two biggest forces in the global economy, are looking to get relations back on track after a spate of fissures that include the fate of the Chinese-founded TikTok and the prospect of harsh tariffs that Donald Trump’s White House slapped on Beijing and other governments earlier this year but have been paused. Trump and Xi are tentatively scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the APEC regional economic summit in South Korea, which convenes late next month.
Li, 66, is considered the second-highest figure in the Chinese government behind paramount leader Xi Jinping, who is the president and general secretary of the Communist Party and has, at least until recently, promoted a personality cult around him. While Xi himself has addressed the General Assembly in the past — notably via video during the pandemic — top diplomat Wang Yi has been the go-to figure for U.N. addresses in recent years.