Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 18, 2020
CCTV reporter: According to reports, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has a phone conversation with Indian Foreign Minister Su Jiesheng. The two sides exchanged views on the situation in the western section of the Sino-Indian border. What is your comment? Will the tension on the Sino-Indian border continue to escalate ?
Zhao Lijian: In response to the recent incidents on the western section of the Sino-Indian border, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated China’s solemn position in detail on the phone with Indian Foreign Minister Su Jiesheng. China has stated on many occasions that the cause of the incident was that the front-line forces of India openly broke the consensus reached at the military-level meeting between the two parties. Once the situation in the Gallevan Valley has slowed down, they once again crossed the actual control line to deliberately provoke and violent Attacking the officers and soldiers who negotiated on the spot with China led to fierce physical clashes, resulting in casualties.
After the incident, China and India communicated and coordinated through military and diplomatic channels. The two sides agreed to deal fairly with the serious events caused by the conflict in the Gallevan Valley, jointly abide by the consensus reached at the meeting of the military commanders of the two countries, and cool the situation on the spot as soon as possible. Maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. At present, the overall situation in the border area between China and India is stable and controllable. I believe that under the guidance of the important consensus spirit of the leaders of the two countries, the two sides can properly handle the current situation, jointly maintain peace and stability in the border area, and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
Surging News Reporter: Yesterday, the Central African unity summit in particular the fight against SARS, the Chinese side to take more action to help African countries fight the epidemic, new achievements in slowing debts of African countries, to support African countries to overcome the economic difficulties. However, some media believe that China's holding of this summit aims to further expand its influence in Africa. What's China's comment ?
Zhao Lijian: On June 17, the China-Africa Solidarity Anti-epidemic Summit was successfully held. This is a special gathering held by the leaders of China and Africa under the situation of solidarity and anti-epidemic. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the summit, proposing a series of important initiatives and propositions, announcing full support for anti-epidemic actions in African countries, continuing to provide material assistance to Africa, dispatching medical expert groups, accelerating the construction of the African CDC headquarters, and promising a new crown vaccine After R&D is completed and put into use, it will be the first to benefit African countries. China is willing to work with the international community to increase support for African countries with particularly severe epidemics and severe pressures, including further extension of debt relief, to help African countries overcome current difficulties. .
African leaders warmly welcome and highly appraise this. They said that the convening of the China-Africa Solidarity Anti-epidemic Special Summit coincided with the occasion, which strengthened the confidence of African countries to overcome the epidemic. China is "a friend in the snow" when Africa needs it most. China and Africa will tighten their bonds of solidarity and strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation, which will boost the confidence of the world in defeating the epidemic at an early date and set an example for international anti-epidemic cooperation.
The current epidemic in Africa is still spreading. African countries are facing multiple challenges and look forward to the international community’s increased support for Africa. China calls on the international community to listen carefully to Africa’s voice, actively respond to Africa’s concerns, and take more actions to make tangible contributions to Africa’s early victory over the epidemic and the achievement of sustainable development.
China International Television reporter: The U.S. " Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 " came into effect after President Trump signed it and became officially a law. According to the content of the bill, President Trump will submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the entry into force of the bill and provide a list of sanctions. . What's China's comment ?
Zhao Lijian: The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have issued solemn statements on this. The US has signed the so-called "2020 Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act" into law. This so-called bill deliberately discredited China's human rights situation in Xinjiang, maliciously attacked the Chinese government's policy of governing Xinjiang, flagrantly trampled on international law and basic norms of international relations, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs. The Chinese government and people express strong indignation and firm opposition to this.
The Xinjiang-related issue is not a question of human rights, ethnicity, or religion at all, but an issue of anti-terrorism and anti-secession. Xinjiang has suffered from extremism and violent separatist activities, and the lives and property of people have been seriously threatened. Xinjiang adheres to both the symptoms and the root causes, and the combination of crackdown and prevention not only complies with Chinese laws, but also China’s implementation of the international community’s anti-terrorism and de-extremification initiatives, including the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Action Plan to Prevent Violent Extremism Specific steps and manifestations.
Various work carried out in Xinjiang has effectively curbed the momentum of frequent and violent terrorist activities, safeguarded the unity and security of the country to the greatest extent, and guaranteed the basic rights of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including the rights to life, health, and development. Over the past three years, there has been no case of violence in Xinjiang, ethnic equality and unity, religious harmony and harmony, and people’s lives are stable and peaceful. The international community has generally made positive comments on the Chinese government's policy of governing Xinjiang.
Terrorism and extremism are the common enemies of human society. The anti-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts of all countries should not be measured with different scales, nor should they be deliberately distorted against international morality and human conscience. The above-mentioned US bill ignores facts and reverses right and wrong, attempts to stigmatize Xinjiang’s anti-terrorism, anti-secession, and de-radicalization measures, and nakedly implement double standards on anti-terrorism issues, which further exposes the US side’s damage to China’s sovereignty, security, and provocation of the Chinese nation. Relations, undermine the prosperity and stability of Xinjiang, and contain the sinister intentions of China's development and growth.
We want to tell the United States that Xinjiang affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and no foreign interference is allowed. The Chinese government and people are determined to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests. We once again urge the US to correct its mistakes immediately and stop using the aforementioned Xinjiang-related bill to harm China’s interests and interfere in China’s internal affairs. Otherwise, China will definitely resolutely resist, and all consequences arising therefrom must be fully borne by the US.
China Daily reporter: During the dialogue with US Secretary of State Pompeo, did Director Yang Jiechi discuss issues related to the new coronary pneumonia epidemic ?
Zhao Lijian: China has released information on the dialogue between Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Secretary of State Pompeo in Hawaii. Regarding the issue of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Yang Jiechi pointed out in the dialogue that the facts have fully proved that China's epidemic prevention and control is open, transparent, rapid and efficient. At present, the epidemic of New Coronary Pneumonia continues to spread globally. Both China and the United States should strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation, support the World Health Organization to play a leading role, help the vast number of developing countries to fight epidemic, and make due contributions to global public health and security cooperation.
Agence France-Presse : You mentioned that China firmly opposes the " Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 ". The US must bear the consequences. What are the specific consequences?
Zhao Lijian: How the situation will develop next depends entirely on how the US actually acts.
Kyodo News reporter: Today the foreign minister of the Group of Seven issued a statement on Hong Kong issues. What is your comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: We issued a joint statement to the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven countries, and expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to Hong Kong affairs. We have repeatedly emphasized that Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs, and no foreign government, organization or individual has the right to intervene.
The relevant decisions of the National People’s Congress of China and the legislation of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress are intended to make up for the legal loopholes in the maintenance of national security in Hong Kong. Establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security at the national level was originally a manifestation of "one country, two systems", and also to ensure the stability of the "one country, two systems" policy and maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. We have reiterated many times that the core of the "Sino-British Joint Statement" is China's restoration of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region together constitute the constitutional foundation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
China's determination to promote Hong Kong-related national security legislation is unwavering. I urge relevant parties to study the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, treat objectively and impartially the national security legislation concerning Hong Kong, abide by international laws and basic rules of international relations, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China’s internal affairs.
Russia Today reporter: Yesterday the Russian Foreign Minister said Russia, India, China Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be video 6 Yue 2 3 held in May, but then there were reports that the meeting will be postponed for unknown reasons, can you confirm ?
Zhao Lijian: China, Russia, and India are maintaining communication on the arrangements for the video conference between China, Russia, and India foreign ministers. If there is any further information, we will release it in time.
Agence France-Presse reporter: India seems to have sent troops to reinforce the border defense forces. Does China take the same measures? Can you disclose more details today ?
Zhao Lijian: I have just stated China's position on the situation in the western section of the Sino-Indian border. Both China and India are using military and diplomatic channels to resolve relevant issues on the ground. I have no news to release.
Reuters reporter: Still on the issue of the Sino-Indian border conflict , Indian officials claimed that an army colonel and soldier were attacked by iron rods from Chinese soldiers. What is your comment? In addition, is the cause of the conflict caused by the Indian army destroying the facilities built by China on the actual control line or across the line?
Zhao Lijian: The truth of this incident is very clear, and the responsibility lies not with China. China has detailed the ins and outs of the incident. On the evening of June 15, the Indian front-line frontier troops openly broke the consensus reached at the military-level meetings between the two sides. Once the situation in the Gallevan Valley has slowed down, they crossed the actual control line again and deliberately provoked and violently attacked the Chinese side. The officers and soldiers who negotiated with each other in turn triggered fierce physical conflict, resulting in casualties. The Chinese side hopes that the Indian side will conduct a thorough investigation, severely punish those responsible for the incident, strictly control the frontline troops, and immediately stop all provocative actions to ensure that such incidents will not happen again.
Yesterday State Councilor Wang Yi held a phone call with Indian Foreign Minister Su Jiesheng, and the news release has been released. The two sides agreed to deal fairly with the serious events caused by the conflict in the Gallevan Valley, jointly abide by the consensus reached at the military-level meetings between the two sides, cool down the situation on the ground as soon as possible, and maintain peace and tranquility in the border area in accordance with the agreement reached so far between the two countries.
Indian Press Trust : Regarding the China-India Foreign Minister's call , are the two sides considering what measures to take next?
Zhao Lijian: State Councilor Wang Yi clarified China's position on the current Sino-Indian border situation in a telephone conversation with Indian Foreign Minister Su Jiesheng. He also emphasized that both China and India are emerging forces with a population of more than one billion people, and accelerating their own development and revitalization is our respective historical mission. To this end, mutual respect and mutual support is the right way, which is in the long-term interests of the two countries; mutual suspicion and mutual friction are evil roads, contrary to the fundamental aspirations of the two peoples. The two sides should follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and strengthen the communication and coordination on the proper handling of the border situation through the existing channels such as the meeting mechanism between the special representatives of the Sino-Indian border and the meeting mechanism of the border defense force, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border area.
The two sides agreed to deal fairly with the serious events caused by the conflict in the Gallevan Valley, jointly abide by the consensus reached at the military-level meetings between the two sides, cool down the situation on the ground as soon as possible, and maintain peace and tranquility in the border area in accordance with the agreement reached so far between the two countries.