China blasts US as ‘bullying’ with ‘wanton’ flight suspensions

China accused the US of “bullying” over its decision to suspend dozens of flights from America by Chinese airlines, underscoring lingering tensions between the world’s biggest economies. The US “wantonly suspended Chinese flights and disrupted their normal operations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday. “It is irresponsible and unreasonable.” The US on Friday issued restrictions on Air China, China Eastern , China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, resulting in the suspension of 44 flights by those carriers. For its part, China has in recent months suspended flights by the major U.S. airlines, citing Covid-19 containment efforts. The US has said that violates a treaty on flight access. China’s measures to curb virus transmission had been effective, Zhao said. He urged “the US to respect science” and to stop “restricting normal people-to-people exchanges.”<br/>