China warns US attempts to contain it 'doomed to fail'by AFP Staff WritersBeijing (AFP) Jan 29, 2026Beijing said on Thursday attempts to contain it are "doomed to fail", days after the US defence department announced it would prioritise curbing China this year while maintaining respectful ties. "Facts have proven that any attempt to contain or block China is doomed to fail," defence ministry spokesman Jiang Bin told a news briefing. The United States' 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), released last week, said Washington would "deter China in the Indo-Pacific through strength, not confrontation". The previous NDS -- released under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden -- described China as Washington's most consequential challenge. The new document however urges "respectful relations" with Beijing -- while making no mention of US ally Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.