Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi, from the left, spar with Antony Blinken, second from right and Jake Sullivan
Senior US and Chinese diplomats publicly clashed at the start of their first face-to-face encounter since Joe Biden was elected president.
The meeting in Anchorage, Alaska turned into a very undiplomatic war of words as the US accused China of "threatening global stability" and risking a "far more violent and unstable world."
Chinese officials responded by accusing their US counterparts of hypocrisy on human rights and said black people were being "slaughtered" in America.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing remain high following a trade war and rows over issues including defence, technology, cyber hacking, and Hong Kong.
The two days of talks were supposed to get underway with brief opening statements but that turned into nearly an hour of heated exchanges in front of TV cameras.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second from right, joined by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, right, speaks during the opening session of US-China talks with Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi, and China's State Councilor Wang Yi
Credit: AFP
Tony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said his country, under Mr Biden, would push back against China’s increasing authoritarianism and assertiveness abroad.
He said: "Each of these actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability. That’s why they’re not merely internal matters and why we feel an obligation to raise these issues here today."
Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, said China was pursuing an "assault on basic values."
He added: "We do not seek conflict but we welcome stiff competition."
In a 15-minute speech Yang Jiechi, the Chinese Communist Party’s top diplomat, accused the US officials of "condescension" and said America was "inciting some countries to attack China."
He said: "We hope that the United States will do better on human rights. In the United States human rights [problems] are deep-seated, they did not just emerge over the past four years, such as Black Lives Matter.
"Many people within the United States actually have little confidence in the democracy of the United States."
He said the US was responsible for a "period of unprecedented difficulty" between the two countries and that "there is no way to strangle China."
He added: "China is firmly opposed to US interference in China’s internal affairs. We have expressed our staunch opposition to such interference, and we will take firm actions in response."
Mr Blinken responded: "I’m also hearing deep concern about some of the actions your government is taking."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, listens as national security adviser Jake Sullivan, right, speaks at the opening session of US-China talks at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska
Credit: AFP
US officials later accused the Chinese delegation of "grandstanding" and "public theatrics".
On the eve of the talks the US had announced sanctions against two dozen Chinese officials over Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.
In Washington, Republicans accused the Chinese delegation in Anchorage of "belligerence" and said it should be a "wake-up call to the Biden administration about exactly who they are dealing with".
Meanwhile, a Canadian detained by China two years ago on suspicion of espionage was due to go on trial on Friday.
Canadian officials said they had been denied access to the trial of Michael Spavor in the northeastern city of Dandong on national security grounds.
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