US should not go further down the wrong path: FM spokesperson

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday that many countries at a recent UN Security Council Arria-Formula meeting called for upholding multilateralism, and that the U.S. should not go further down the wrong path.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks when asked to share more information about the UN Security Council (UNSC) Arria-Formula Meeting on "the Impact of Unilateralism and Bullying Practices on International Relations" held by the Permanent Mission of China to the UN on April 23. Representatives from over 80 countries, including UNSC members, attended the meeting.

"China stressed at the meeting that the U.S.' tariff levies severely infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, severely violate the WTO rules, and severely disrupt the global economic order. It is essentially about subverting the existing international economic and trade order by means of tariffs, putting the U.S. interests above the common good of the international community, and serving U.S. hegemony at the cost of other countries' legitimate interests," Guo said.

"The world needs openness and inclusiveness, not closure and isolation, sovereign equality, not the strong bullying the weak, fairness and justice, not putting one's own country first, and solidarity and cooperation, not division and confrontation. The international community must make the right choice, make its unified voice heard, and take joint actions," Guo added, citing remarks of the Chinese side.

He said that many countries at the meeting called for upholding multilateralism, strengthening dialogue and cooperation, safeguarding the WTO-centered multilateral trade regime, abiding by the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and promoting the stability and development of all countries.

"We hope the U.S. will face up to the widespread concerns and strong call from the international community at the meeting, stop unilateral measures and bullying practices targeting other countries, and stop serving its own hegemony at the cost of other countries' legitimate interests," Guo said.

The world should not return to the law of the jungle where the strong bully the weak, said the spokesperson, noting that the U.S. should not go further down the wrong path.