Chinese FM blasts US 'suppression', defends Russia ties

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed out against the United States and praised his country's partnership with Russia on Thursday, in a wide-ranging press conference where he called the war in Gaza a "disgrace for civilisation".

Wang hit out at what he called efforts by Washington "to suppress China", telling reporters that "the desire to heap blame under any pretext has reached an unbelievable level".

Beijing's top diplomat met the press Thursday on the sidelines of China's largest annual political gathering, which opened in the capital earlier this week.

The "Two Sessions" — parallel meetings of China's rubber-stamp parliament and political consultative body — offer a rare glimpse into the strategy of President Xi Jinping's Communist Party-led government for the year ahead.

This year's gathering is being closely watched for signals as to Chinese leaders' confidence in current geopolitical conditions, as tensions persist across the Taiwan Strait and Russia's war in Ukraine enters its third year.

China's expanding political reach has sparked friction on multiple fronts, with Wang's press conference coming after Southeast Asian and Australian leaders warned this week against Chinese actions that "endanger peace" in the South China Sea.

Beijing has increasingly flexed its muscles in the South China Sea, which it claims in almost its entirety despite an international arbitration ruling that declared its stance baseless.

Chinese coast guard boats were accused on Tuesday of badgering a flotilla of Philippine ships on a resupply mission, with Beijing in turn saying Manila was acting as Washington's pawn.

"We resolutely oppose all acts of hegemony and bullying, and will strongly uphold national sovereignty and...