Many of the themes raised by Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN, echoed long-standing talking points, including US “hegemonic interests” and the need for “win-win” diplomacy where “no one is superior”.
But compared with previous Chinese statements that did not mention the US by name, Fu dispensed with diplomatic niceties and called out Washington repeatedly – defending Beijing against Trump’s tumultuous tariff policy, and characterising its stance as a service to the global order.
“In the face of the US abuse of tariffs … China rose to the occasion and took decisive countermeasures, not only to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, but also to uphold the common interests of the international community,” Fu said, citing the “incessant chaos in the international landscape”.

“The world needs fairness and justice, not putting one’s own country first,” Fu added, a reference to Trump’s “America first” policies.