U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, who is on a visit to Africa, said China’s suspension of cooperation with the United States in addressing climate change would have a particularly large impact on African countries. Senior South African officials say the U.S.-China standoff will affect stability in Africa.

In a joint meeting with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, in Pretoria on Monday (August 8, 2022), Blinken expressed concern about Beijing’s announcement last week to suspend a series of channels of cooperation with Washington. He specifically mentioned the cooperation between the two countries in the field of addressing climate change.

“That’s not punishing the United States, it’s punishing the whole world, especially developing countries, especially Africa, because China and the United States are the world’s number one and second largest emitters of [greenhouse gases,’ We have a special responsibility to ensure that we take the lead in tackling climate change. Unfortunately, China has chosen to end its interaction in this regard at least temporarily. ”

Blinken made a similar statement during a visit to the region last week, saying, “We should not use cooperation on matters of global concern as collateral because of our differences between our two countries.” “Others have reason to expect us to continue to cooperate on issues that affect their lives and the lives and lives of our people.” ”

As part of its countermeasures against U.S. House speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last week, China announced last Friday that it would cancel the arrangement of phone calls between the leaders of the Sino-US military theater, cancel the Sino-US Defense Department work meeting, and cancel the Sino-US maritime military security consultation mechanism meeting. Beijing also decided to suspend bilateral cooperation between the United States and China, including the repatriation of illegal immigrants, criminal justice assistance, the fight against transnational crime, drug control, and climate change talks.

South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, Pandor, who shared a stage with Blinken on Monday, expressed concern about the latest standoff between the two great powers.

“We can’t be asked to get involved in the conflict between China and the United States of America, but I would say that it does destabilize everybody because it affects the global economic system,” Pandor said. We sincerely hope that the United States and China will reach a rapprochement so that everyone can have economic development and growth, because it is extremely important to all of us.”

Blinken is advancing the Biden administration’s new U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa in Africa. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa), which seeks to work with South Africa and other African countries to address climate change, trade, sanitation and food shortages.

He said the United States does not ask African countries to choose sides between the United States and China. South Africa’s Minister Pandor confirmed at a news conference that Secretary of State Blinken had not asked South Africa to do so.

— Voice of America, VoA, Aug 11, 2022