Beijing, October 10 (RHC)-- China has called on the United States to stop its “misguided actions” amid worsening bilateral relations in the wake of hefty trade tariffs and recent allegations of Beijing’s meddling in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks as he received his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.  The two engaged in a bitter exchange of criticism after the top U.S. diplomat arrived in the Chinese capital on the final leg of a three-day East Asia tour focused on North Korea’s nuclear program. 

Wang told Pompeo that Washington has "stepped up rhetoric over trade tensions" after a raft of tit-for-tat tariffs on billion of dollars in US and Chinese goods.  The top Chinese diplomat also accused the U.S. of making "a series of moves" on Taiwan -- a self-ruling island that Beijing regards as a breakaway province -- and "other issues" that harm his country’s sovereignty. 
 
"These actions have affected the mutual trust between both sides, and has cast a shadow over the prospect of China-U.S. relations, which completely go against the interest of our two peoples," Wang said.  "We demand that the U.S. stop such misguided actions," he said, adding that the two countries should pursue cooperation and “not descend into conflict and confrontation." 

The U.S. secretary of state responded to Wang's remarks by saying that the two countries were stuck in a "fundamental disagreement," expressing hope that they could make progress on resolving their differences.  "We have great concerns over the actions that China has taken and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss each of those today because this is an incredibly important relationship," Pompeo said. 

The top U.S. diplomat also lamented the cancelation of a meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Chinese counterpart, which was supposed to take place this month in Beijing, saying the forum was an "important opportunity" for discussion. 

Tensions have increased between U.S. and China in recent months, with the two sides imposing several rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs on each other’s imports.  

Last week, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence accused China of making “malign” efforts to undermine President Donald Trump ahead of next month's congressional elections and of reckless military actions in the South China Sea.  China hit back at Pence’s allegations, saying the vice president “slandered China by claiming that China meddles in U.S. internal affairs and elections.” 

“This is nothing but speaking on hearsay evidence, confusing right and wrong and creating something out of thin air,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.