The United States is to blame for recent tensions in Sino-US ties and must take steps to repair the damage, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday, indicating no let-up in their diplomatic row.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated over a series of other issues -- Google's threat to leave China over cyberattacks and web censorship, a string of trade disputes, and the value of the Chinese yuan.
Wen, addressing hundreds of reporters at the end of China's annual session of parliament, said relations between the world's biggest and third-largest economies "got off to a good start" after Obama took office in January 2009. But Washington's moves on self-ruled Taiwan, which China sees as part of its territory, and Obama's meeting with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader had "violated China's sovereignty" and provoked "serious disturbances" in ties.
"The responsibility does not lie with the Chinese side but with the US," Wen said. "A peaceful US-China relationship makes both countries winners," Wen told reporters. "It's better to have dialogue rather than confrontation, cooperation rather than containment and partnership rather than rivalry."
On the yuan, Wen warned foreign countries it would resist outside pressure.
Asked about the flap surrounding Google, Wen said "China will unswervingly pursue the policy of opening up to the outside world. Foreign businesses are welcome to come to China to establish businesses... according to the law."(Source: AFP, Mar 14, 2010).