International security

China, US should steer clear of conflict as ‘neither can afford it’ – Chinese FM

Both China and the US are destined to be on the losing end in a potential conflict between the countries, as the cost would be too high for each of them to bear, the Chinese foreign minister said, while downplaying Beijing’s ambitions as a global leader.

“For any sober-minded politician, they clearly recognize that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States because both will lose — and both sides cannot afford that,” Wang Yi said after being asked about the possibility of war between two counties during a press conference in Canberra, Australia, on Tuesday.