Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy rear admiral Yang Yi. Photo: GT

We are currently in one of the most perilous periods since the Cold War, and China plays a pivotal role in global power dynamics, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy rear admiral Yang Yi said on Saturday at the Global Times Annual Conference 2025. 

Yang made the remarks in a session on "Exploring the Ways of Interaction Among Major Powers: Differences and Consensus" of the conference under the theme "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World."

Yang said that geopolitical blocs worldwide face instability, with numerous conflicts and the risks of getting out of control. In this context, humanity has indeed reached a crossroads. The three China-proposed initiatives, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, highlight China's actions and vision. 

Regarding the interactions between China and the US, Yang believes that China-US relations are very complex, characterized by strategic structure, irreversibility, long term, and interactive effects. 

China's development aims to enhance domestic well-being while contributing to the world. However, some people in the US view China as a challenger and seek to contain China. The fundamental strategy of the US does not allow the development of countries with potential. Although China advocates for cooperation based on common interests, the US's containment strategy against China remains unlikely to change, he said. 

In this situation, China should focus on its own development, pursuing the best outcomes while preparing for the worst, to foster healthy China-US relations and making more contributions to the world, Yang noted. 

Global Times