Chinese official calls US ‘the world’s biggest destabilizing factor’

China’s top diplomat on Saturday slammed the U.S. as the biggest source of instability in the world during a Group of 20 (G-20) meeting in Japan. 

“The United States is broadly engaged in unilateralism and protectionism, and is damaging multilateralism and the multilateral trading system. It has already become the world’s biggest destabilizing factor,” Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi said, according to Reuters, which cited China’s Foreign Ministry. 

The wire service reported that Wang made the comment to Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok on the sidelines of the Japan meeting. 

He also reportedly accused the U.S. government of baselessly suppressing Chinese businesses. 

“Certain U.S. politicians have smeared China everywhere in the world, but have not produced any evidence,” Wang said. 

He particularly accused the U.S. of trying to “crudely interfere” with China’s affairs and attempting to hurt its “one country, two systems” model in which Hong Kong receives certain freedoms not given to others under Chinese rule. 

Wang also said that “win-win cooperation between China and the United States is the right path.”

His comments followed this week’s congressional passage of a bill in support of pro-Democracy protesters in Hong Kong who are demanding universal suffrage and an independent probe into alleged police brutality.

China has urged President Trump to veto the bill.