A CHINESE foreign ministry spokesperson said yesteday the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is a design of disruption to regional cooperation and a tool of coercion upon regional countries.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to a query on recent claims by U.S. officials that the so-called IPEF would become an important platform for the U.S. and Indo-Pacific countries to enhance economic links, and provide an alternative to China for the region.

As the United States has claimed the framework will help it “win the competition of the 21st century,” Wang said this fully proves the framework in the first place is intended to serve the U.S. economy.

Noting the U.S. has been absent from the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation in recent years, Wang pointed out that the U.S.-proposed IPEF is merely starting things anew for serving its own interests.

At the same time, Wang said the framework is intended for advancing the U.S. geopolitical strategies.

The arrangement, practicing exclusion under the pretext of cooperation, is aimed to establish U.S.-led trade rules and restructure industrial chain systems, for the purpose of decoupling regional countries from the Chinese economy, he added.

(Xinhua)