China Stands Firm: Wang Yi Quotes Ancient Proverbs to Convey Steadfast Resolve Against US Pressure

The phrases, "天行健，君子自强不息" ("The heavens are strong, and the gentleman must strive to be strong"), "他强任他强，清风抚山岗；他横任他横，明月照大江" ("Let them be strong, the clear wind blows on the mountain ridge; let them be tyrannical, the bright moon shines on the great river"), and "任尔东西南北风，我自泰然处之，岿然不动" ("No matter the wind from east, west, south, or north, I remain calm and unmoved"), embody the spirit of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. These phrases convey the message that China will remain steadfast and unyielding in the face of US pressure, and will continue to pursue its development and growth with confidence and determination.

Wang Yi's speech reflects China's firm stance on its relations with the US and its commitment to defending its national interests. He emphasized that China's actions are not only to defend its national sovereignty, dignity, and legitimate development rights but also to maintain international fairness and justice. If the US continues to suppress and contain China, China will "accompany them to the end" and firmly counter the US's unilateral hegemonic actions.

Wang Yi's use of these ancient phrases is meant to convey China's unwavering commitment to its principles and its unshakeable confidence in the face of external pressures. The phrases suggest that China will not be swayed by external forces and will remain steadfast in its pursuit of its goals. By invoking these ancient sayings, Wang Yi is drawing on a deep well of Chinese cultural and historical heritage to convey a sense of continuity and tradition.

Wang Yi also emphasized the importance of avoiding conflict between China and the United States, stressing that if the two countries were to clash, the world would suffer the consequences. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen dialogue, enhance understanding, and build trust. He voiced his hope that the United States would work towards establishing a stable, healthy, and sustainable bilateral relationship with China. Wang outlined China's three principles for its relations with the US: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

The Chinese Foreign Minister also emphasized the necessity of cooperation between the two nations in addressing global challenges, which is not only in the interest of both countries but also a responsibility they should undertake for the international community. He expressed China's readiness to construct a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship with the US based on the three principles mentioned, with the hope that the US would move in the same direction.

When mentioning the ancient Chinese phrases, Wang humorously suggested that translating them might not be easy and proposed that the audience could seek help from "DeepSeek" for a more accurate interpretation, underscoring the complexity and depth of Chinese wisdom and culture. This lighthearted comment also underscored the importance of mutual understanding and respect in international diplomacy. Wang Yi's use of these classical phrases not only showcased his mastery of Chinese literature but also conveyed China's firm stance on its relationship with the US.

Wang Yi made it clear that if the US insists on suppressing and containing China, China will not back down and will resolutely counter such unilateral and bullying actions to defend its national sovereignty, dignity, and legitimate development rights. This stance, Wang explained, is also aimed at upholding international fairness and justice, as well as the basic norms of international relations. The fact that Wang Yi suggested that foreign media outlets could use DeepSeek to help with translation highlights the complexity and nuances of the Chinese language, as well as the challenges of conveying the richness and depth of Chinese cultural heritage to a global audience.