KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 6

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the US will defend its national interests and hold Beijing accountable for 'its abuses of the international system'.

Blinken took to Twitter and stated that he called his Chinese counterpart in Beijing to make matter clear, 'In my call with my counterpart in Beijing, Yang Jiechi, I made clear the US will defend our national interests, stand up for our democratic values, and hold Beijing accountable for its abuses of the international system.'

This statement made by the US Secretary of State met with positive and negative comments. While some supported this view, others said that the US must cooperate with international communities including China.

International news agency Reuters quoted the State Department as saying that Blinken told Yang Jiechi the United States will stand up for human rights and democratic values in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. It further added that he also pressed China to condemn the military coup in Myanmar.

On February 1, Blinken himself on behalf of the US, had condemned the military coup, 'The United States expresses grave concern regarding reports the Burmese military has detained multiple civilian government and civil society leaders. The military must reverse these actions immediately.'