Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on July 6, 2020
CCTV reporter: Recently, the WHO updated the "Timeline for Responding to the New Coronary Pneumonia Outbreak". McCall, the chairman of the China Working Group of the US House of Representatives, issued a statement saying: WHO has finally admitted the truth, and the Chinese Communist Party has never reported an outbreak to the World Health Organization. What is China's comment? Has China ever taken the initiative to report an outbreak to WHO?
Zhao Lijian: The US side's statement is completely inconsistent with the facts.
As a party to the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization, China has always performed its duties and obligations under the International Health Regulations in an open, transparent and responsible manner. Taiwan areas promptly and proactively report epidemic information. The timeline announced by both the Chinese government and WHO clearly stated that China shared the epidemic information with the international community in a timely and transparent manner. On December 31 of last year, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission issued a "Circular on the Current Situation of Pneumonia in Our City" on the official website. The Chinese side notified WHO in the first time. The facts are clear.
Some American politicians distort the facts and fabricate lies in order to discredit China and WHO and serve their own political purposes. We urge them to respect the facts and stop political manipulation.
Macau Monthly Reporter: According to reports, China has recently conducted military training in the South China Sea, and the United States also sent two aircraft carriers to the South China Sea on July 4 to carry out military exercises. What is your comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: Last week I answered questions about China’s military training in Xisha’s relevant waters. I would like to emphasize again that the Xisha Islands are Chinese territory and there is no dispute. China’s military training in the Xisha waters is within China’s sovereignty and is beyond reproach.
At present, with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has remained generally stable and developing well. In this situation, the United States deliberately dispatched heavy troops to conduct large-scale military exercises in the relevant waters of the South China Sea to show off its military force. It was totally ulterior motives. The actions of the United States are intended to provoke relations between countries in the separated regions, promote militarization of the South China Sea, and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea. The international community, especially the countries in the region, see this clearly.
Hong Kong China Commentary reporter: A few days ago, Canadian Foreign Minister Shang Pengfei issued a statement announcing that Canada banned the export of sensitive military items to Hong Kong, suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong, and updated Canadian travel tips to Hong Kong. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said that Canada is considering other measures such as immigration. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: Canada’s erroneous remarks related to Hong Kong and the announced measures, regardless of the basic facts that Hong Kong’s national security legislation contributes to the stability of “one country, two systems”, seriously violate international law and basic norms of international relations, and grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs. China strongly condemns this and reserves the right to make further responses. All consequences arising therefrom will be fully borne by Canada.
Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs, and foreign countries have no right to interfere arbitrarily. The Chinese government's determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests is unswerving, and its determination to oppose external forces to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs is unswerving. Any attempt to pressure China will never succeed.
China urges Canada to immediately correct its mistakes and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way, so as not to cause further damage to China-Canada relations.
China News Agency reporter: Recently, the Somali Presidential Palace issued a statement reaffirming its adherence to the one-China principle and condemning Taiwan for undermining Somali sovereignty and territorial integrity. Earlier it was reported that the Taiwan authorities and Somaliland in northwestern Somalia decided to establish "representative offices" with each other and have appointed their respective representatives to each other. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: We have noticed that the Somali government reiterated its adherence to the one-China principle and condemned Taiwan for undermining Somali sovereignty and territorial integrity. We appreciate this. There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The one-China principle is a generally accepted norm of international relations and a general consensus of the international community. China firmly opposes the establishment of an official agency or any form of official exchange between the Taiwan authorities and Somaliland. The DPP authorities are throwing medical care in a hurry and trying to engage in separatist activities internationally will never succeed.
Globe and Mail reporter: There is no extradition agreement between Canada and Mainland China. Now Canada decides to suspend the extradition treaty with Hong Kong, which means that Canada views Hong Kong as part of China. Why is China so dissatisfied?
Zhao Lijian: You are a strong word! Don’t you know that this is Canada’s interference in China’s internal affairs? !
"Beijing Youth Daily" reporter: It is understood that China and Mongolia held the second meeting of the joint defense and joint control mechanism of the two countries, at which it was announced that the "green channel" at the Sino-Mongolian border port would be established and launched. Can you confirm and introduce the specific situation?
Zhao Lijian: On July 3, China and Mongolia held the second meeting of the joint prevention and control cooperation mechanism in response to the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, and announced the establishment and operation of the "green channel" at the Sino-Mongolian border port. The diplomatic, transportation, commercial, health, customs, immigration and other departments of both sides participated. At the meeting, China and Mongolia reached an agreement on the "Green Channel" implementation plan and agreed to start operations in the near future.
It is understood that the "green channel" includes two major parts of people and goods. Applicable personnel are drivers engaged in land and cross-border freight transportation in the two countries, engaged in business, logistics, production and technical services, and urgently needed staff involved in major cooperation projects. At the same time, both parties will optimize the port workflow, speed up the inspection and improve the efficiency of cargo clearance. In the context of the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, the establishment and implementation of the China-Mongolia "green channel" will ensure the necessary and urgent personnel exchanges between the two sides at the system level and expand trade in goods, which will help the two sides to better coordinate the promotion of epidemic prevention and control and the resumption of production and major cooperation projects. , Of great significance.
China and Mongolia are good neighbors and good friends. In the fight against the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic, they have written a chapter of cooperation between neighboring countries working together to overcome difficulties. China is willing to work with Mongolia to strengthen communication and cooperate closely to ensure the smooth operation of the "green channel" and jointly promote international anti-epidemic cooperation to strive for an early victory over the epidemic.
Agence France-Presse reporter: According to French media reports, Huawei will be allowed to participate in the construction of 5G networks in France, but Huawei's permission is limited. What's China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: China has always believed that 5G technology is the forefront, leading and platform technology of the fourth industrial revolution. The development and utilization of 5G under the globalization trend will surely be the process and product of mutual consultation and construction among all countries.
The French government has repeatedly stated publicly that it will not take discriminatory measures against specific countries or enterprises on the 5G issue, nor will it exclude Huawei. It is hoped that the French side can maintain an objective and fair attitude, respect market laws and corporate wishes, make independent choices in accordance with its own interests, and use practical actions to provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for companies including Chinese companies.
Surging News Reporter: According to reports, recently, Navarro, director of the National Trade and Manufacturing Policy Office of the White House in the United States, said in an interview that China makes new coronavirus in the laboratory and uses the virus as a weapon to intentionally let infected Chinese people go to The United States and other parts of the world have closed their domestic transportation networks. What's China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: Navarro lied to this person, became addicted to rumors, and cast "poison" everywhere. What I mean by "poison" refers to the "political virus" that stigmatized China through the epidemic situation.
We still puncture his lies with facts: After the outbreak, the Chinese government took the most comprehensive, strictest and most thorough prevention and control measures in a timely manner to fully prevent the spread of the outbreak and effectively cut off the virus transmission chain. On January 23, China temporarily closed the Departure Channel. At that time, there was only one officially confirmed case in the United States; on January 31, the three major US airlines announced the suspension of direct flights between China and the United States; on February 2, the United States closed its border to China. At that time, there were only more than 10 publicly confirmed cases in the United States. From January 24th to April 8th, during the "Fengcheng" period in Wuhan, Wuhan had neither commercial flights nor trains to leave Wuhan to other cities in China or overseas. On April 8, the number of confirmed cases in the United States jumped from double digits to 400,000. At present, there are more than 2.87 million confirmed cases in the United States and nearly 130,000 deaths. Ryan, the executive director of WHO's health emergencies plan, recently warned that the new coronary pneumonia will not disappear automatically and the data will not lie. The countries concerned should quickly wake up. China has achieved major strategic achievements in epidemic prevention, control and blocking wars and has quickly controlled the new epidemic in a short period of time. Looking at the US side, what has it done? How is it doing? When will the US blame the pan?
Navarro used the fictional expert "Ron Walla" in his book-this is a variant of his name-to discredit China, and the world has long seen his lying nature, pot tricks and anti-Chinese essence. Navarro will first answer the question of the host of Microsoft National Broadcasting Corporation (MSNBC): Why are the new cases in the United States much higher than in other parts of the world? He should also answer the "soul torture" of the international community: What is the real reason for the US government to close Fort Detrick Biological Base? What is the connection between the closure of the base and the "e-cigarette disease", pandemic flu and new coronary pneumonia? When will the US invite WHO or an international expert team to the United States to investigate the origin of the epidemic?
We advise Navarro and his colleagues to respect facts and science, have a minimum of responsibility, and give top priority to responding to the domestic epidemic in the United States and saving people’s lives. They should abandon the wrong practice that political self-interest is higher than people’s lives. Too.
Reuters reporter: According to Indian media reports, China has withdrawn tents and other facilities from the conflict site in the Galle Valley. Can you confirm?
Zhao Lijian: The Chinese and Indian armed forces held the third round of military-level talks on June 30. The two sides continue to promote the implementation of the consensus reached in the previous two rounds of military-level talks, and have made positive progress in taking effective measures to disengage frontline troops and ease the border situation. It is hoped that the Indian side and the Chinese side will move towards each other, implement the consensus reached by both parties through practical actions, continue to maintain close communication through military and diplomatic channels, and jointly promote the relaxation and cooling of the situation in the border areas.
"China Daily" reporter: According to reports, on July 3, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif has written to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borelli, deciding to fail to implement the comprehensive agreement against France, Germany and the United Kingdom according to the provisions of the comprehensive agreement Obligation to initiate dispute settlement mechanism. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: The comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue is an important achievement of multilateral diplomacy approved by the UN Security Council resolution, an important support for the international nuclear non-proliferation system and peace and stability in the Middle East, and an important part of the international order based on international law. The withdrawal of the United States from the comprehensive agreement and pressure on Iran’s limits is the root cause of the current tension in the Iranian nuclear situation. China hopes that all parties concerned will proceed from the overall situation and the long-term perspective and strive to move towards each other, insist on resolving differences in performance through dialogue and consultation within the framework of the Joint Commission on Comprehensive Agreement, restore the balance of rights and obligations of the agreement, and make every effort to maintain and implement the comprehensive agreement. China will maintain close communication with relevant parties, actively persuade peace and promote talks, and continue to promote the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
"Global Times" reporter: According to reports, the Japanese Cabinet Chief Sugai Suga expressed at a press conference on the law enforcement activities of Chinese Coast Guard ships cruising in the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands. The Japanese government has expressed "serious protests" to China through diplomatic channels. "I strongly urge China to stop approaching Japanese fishing vessels and immediately withdraw from the territorial waters of Diaoyu Island, and said that Japan has equipped the Coastal Protection Agency patrol boat around it to ensure the safety of fishing vessels." It is also reported that the Chinese naval police ship has cruised and enforced law in the territorial waters of Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands recently. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: Recently, the Chinese Coast Guard discovered a Japanese fishing boat illegally intruding into the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands during a routine cruise on the Diaoyu Islands. The Chinese maritime police ship implements follow-up monitoring on it in accordance with the law and requires it to withdraw from the Chinese sea immediately. China has made solemn representations to Japan through diplomatic channels in this regard, urging Japan to immediately stop infringing upon China’s sovereignty.
Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. It is China's inherent right to carry out cruise law enforcement in the waters of Diaoyu Island. We request Japan to abide by the spirit of the four-point consensus and take practical actions to maintain the stability of the situation in the East China Sea.
Agence France-Presse: According to reports, the Iranian foreign minister said that Iran and China are negotiating a 25-year agreement. Can you confirm?
Zhao Lijian: China and Iran are traditionally friendly, and the two sides have maintained communication on the development of bilateral relations. We are willing to work together with Iran to steadily promote pragmatic cooperation.
"Beijing Daily" reporter: According to reports, China and New Zealand recently held an expert video conference to deal with the new coronary pneumonia epidemic. Can you tell us about the specific situation?
Zhao Lijian: On July 3, China-New Zealand held a video conference of experts on responding to the new coronary pneumonia epidemic. The National Health Commission of China has released relevant information.
At the meeting, experts from both China and Singapore conducted discussions on the prevention and treatment of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, and introduced the latest development situation, prevention and control experience of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic and relevant measures taken to resume work and resume production. Experts at the meeting also discussed new coronary pneumonia detection methods, clinical diagnosis and treatment, and exchanged opinions on the next step to expand cooperation areas, build a technology exchange platform, and strengthen communication under the multilateral mechanism.
Viruses are our common enemy. The destinies of all countries are connected, and only by uniting together can we overcome the difficulties. China will always uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, work together with other countries to help each other, and work together to overcome the epidemic. We are willing to continue to actively contribute Chinese wisdom, Chinese experience, and Chinese prescriptions to the international community in fighting the epidemic.