China doesn’t want diplomatic war with US: Foreign minister

China says it has no intention of ratcheting up tensions with the United States and engaging in a diplomatic war with Washington.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remark in an interview with the official Xinhua news agency late on Wednesday, putting forward four principles to advance Sino-US ties.

“Avoid confrontation, keep the channels open for candid dialog, reject decoupling, stand up to shared responsibilities,” he said.

Wang said a diplomatic war would be wrong.

“Anyone who tries to start a new Cold War in the 21st century will be on the wrong side of history and will only be remembered as the one who has upended international cooperation,” China’s top diplomat added.

Last month, the US abruptly ordered the closure of China’s consulate in Houston, Texas. China reciprocated by ordering that the US consulate in Chengdu shut down.

“China has no intention to fight a ‘diplomatic war’ with the US as it will only hurt the interests of the two peoples even more,” Wang further said, adding, however, that, “If the US is bent on going down the wrong path, China is ready to make due response.”

This week, the US said it was sending a cabinet secretary to Taiwan in a snub of the Chinese government, which is opposed to official exchanges between foreign governments and the self-ruled island.

Beijing has sovereignty over Taiwan, and under the “One China” policy, almost all world countries recognize that sovereignty. The US, too, recognizes Chinese sovereignty over the island but has long courted Taipei in an attempt to counter Beijing.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Chinese foreign minister urged Washington to “reject decoupling and uphold cooperation,” stressing that the interests of both countries were deeply entwined.

“Forced decoupling will inflict a lasting impact on bilateral relations, and endanger the security of international industrial chains and interests of all countries,” Wang said.

The White House has been persistently pushing to banish Chinese technology from the American computer and smartphone industries, accusing Chinese firms of spying. Beijing strongly denies the allegation.