China’s Xi condemns ‘unilateralism of individual countries’ amid tensions with US

China’s president lashed out at “unilateralism” and countries that attempt to “force” their own rules upon others during a speech Tuesday seen as a critique of U.S. foreign policy.

While not specifically criticizing the U.S. by name at the Boao Forum for Asia, Xi delivered criticism of countries that sought to “decouple” and “build barriers” between other nations, which he said helped nobody, according to multiple media reports.

“International affairs should be handled by everyone through consultation,” Xi said during a virtual address, according to The Associated Press. “Rules made by one or more countries should not be forced upon others.”

“A big country should look like a big country by showing that it is shouldering more responsibility,” he continued, Reuters reported.

Xi also pledged that China would not plan to “seek spheres of influence” or “expand,” remarks that come as tensions between the U.S. and China over the island nation of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, are at an all-time high.

“No matter how far it develops, China will never seek hegemony, expand, seek spheres of influence or engage in an arms race,” Xi added.

His speech follows months of back-and-forth jabs between the Biden administration and Beijing, which has urged the U.S. to abandon the confrontational anti-China stances of the Trump administration including support for Taiwan, which the Biden administration has largely refused to do.

“Our support for Taiwan is rock-solid. We will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values and a free and open Indo-Pacific region — and that includes deepening our unofficial ties with democratic Taiwan,” a State Department spokesperson told The Hill last month.