Image Caption: Xie Feng speaks at China-U.S. student exchange event, Washington. (Photo by Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images).
WASHINGTON — Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng has charged the United States to lead global peace and that war remains a persistent threat, likening it to “a sword of Damocles hanging over humankind.”
His comments came during a high-level reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War’s victory and the heroic legacy of the Flying Tigers.
Addressing diplomats, veterans, and scholars on March 25, 2025, Xie stressed that emerging dangers such as artificial intelligence and climate change demand urgent cooperation between China and the United States.
AI and Climate Change Pose Existential Threats to Global Peace, Says Xie
“The world today needs China and the United States to coordinate more and lead by example,” said Xie. He emphasized that unlike conventional wars, the risks of AI escalation and climate-related disasters threaten not just national security but the survival of humanity.
Both countries, he noted, bear historical and moral obligations as founding members of the United Nations and permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Commemorating a Shared Victory and a Common Future
Xie used the event to revisit the unity forged during WWII when American pilots from the Flying Tigers unit joined Chinese forces in fighting Japanese aggression. “Eighty years ago, we stood shoulder to shoulder to defeat fascism. Today, we must stand together again,” he said.
He advocated for reinforcing the United Nations’ mission and re-committing to its principles to address modern issues posing challenges to global peace.
World Peace a Call for Action, Not Just Remembrance
The ambassador’s speech carried a deeper implication: geopolitical competition must not hinder practical cooperation on shared existential challenges. He called for renewed dialogue between Washington and Beijing to prevent global systems from fragmenting under pressure.
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“The international order must evolve but not collapse,” Xie warned.
A Strategic Signal Amid Great-Power Rivalry
Analysts suggest the timing and tone of Xie’s remarks reflect Beijing’s broader strategy to present itself as a stabilizing global power. As AI warfare, climate extremes, and regional tensions dominate the 2025 global agenda, the ambassador’s words appear crafted to emphasize China’s willingness to engage multilaterally.
