Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's regular press conference on September 4, 2020
China Daily reporter: Recently, The Times reported that the number of diplomats in the Chinese Embassy in the UK has increased by nearly a quarter in the past 10 years, causing people to worry about China's expanding political influence in the UK. What is China's comment?
Hua Chunying: Chinese embassies and consulates abroad have always been committed to enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides.
In the past 10 years, China and Britain have significantly increased their exchanges and cooperation in economic, trade and investment, personnel exchanges, culture and education and other fields.
The Sino-British trade in goods has doubled, China's investment in the UK has increased nearly 20 times, and the number of Chinese students studying in the UK has increased by 100,000.
The people of China and Britain have benefited from the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
In order to meet the ever-increasing work needs, an appropriate increase in embassy staff is completely normal, necessary, and reasonable.
In fact, the number of diplomats in the British Embassy in China has also increased significantly in the past 10 years.
Currently, the number of diplomats in the Chinese Embassy in the UK is still less than the number of diplomats in the British Embassy in China.
Some people have emptied their minds to piece together so-called "materials" and deliberately undermined Sino-British relations. Not only are they unreasonable, but they are also sinister. I believe everyone sees it clearly.
China News Service reporter: For a period of time, US Secretary of State Pompeo and other US politicians have turned against China and repeatedly viciously attacked the Chinese Communist Party on many occasions. At the same time, we noticed that a symposium to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held in Beijing yesterday. President Xi Jinping mentioned five times in a row that "the Chinese people will never agree". The relevant expressions have caused both domestic and overseas extensive attention. What's your opinion?
Hua Chunying: I suggest that American politicians such as Pompeo read carefully the important speech delivered by President Xi Jinping yesterday afternoon at the symposium commemorating the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression 75 years ago was a great victory for the national spirit with patriotism at its core. It was a great victory for the Chinese Communist Party to play a mainstay role. It was also a great victory for the whole nation to stand up and fight bravely. It was also a great victory for the Chinese people. The world’s anti-fascist allies and the people of all countries fought together a great victory.
Over the past 75 years, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people have always been connected to each other, sharing life and death, and have always regarded the happiness of the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as their original mission and mission.
The reason why the Chinese Communist Party has been able to develop from a small party with only a few dozen members to a large party with 92 million members in power in the most populous country in the world today is that the Chinese Communist Party has always represented the fundamental interests of the majority of the Chinese people. Serve the people wholeheartedly, always do everything for the people and rely on the people for everything.
According to a survey conducted by a world-renowned polling agency, the satisfaction and support rate enjoyed by the Communist Party of China among the Chinese people has consistently ranked first in the world in recent years.
Today, 75 years later, the Chinese Communist Party has united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to start a business with arduous efforts and has achieved world-renowned development achievements.
This year, China will eliminate absolute poverty for the first time in history. More than 850 million people will be lifted out of poverty and 1.4 billion people will be modernized. This is the only magnificent development process in human history.
As President Xi Jinping emphasized, to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the people-centered approach, adhere to the spirit of struggle, and unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development.
The Chinese people will never agree to anyone or any force who attempts to distort the history of the Chinese Communist Party and vilify the nature and purpose of the Chinese Communist Party!
Anyone or any force who attempts to distort and change the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, deny or vilify the great achievements of the Chinese people in building socialism, the Chinese people will never agree!
The Chinese people will never agree to anyone or any force who attempts to separate the Communist Party of China from the Chinese people and antagonize them!
Anyone or any force who attempts to impose their will on China through bullying, change the direction of China’s progress, and obstruct the efforts of the Chinese people to create their own better life, the Chinese people will never agree!
Anyone or any force who attempts to undermine the peaceful life and development rights of the Chinese people, undermine the exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese people and the people of other countries, or undermine the noble cause of peace and development of mankind, the Chinese people will never agree!
These five "Chinese people will never agree" are the best and most resounding answers to some extreme anti-China forces in the United States to maliciously smear and attack the Chinese Communist Party and to instigate the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people.
Headquarters CCTV reporter: On September 3, the co-chair of the WHO COVID-19 Response Evaluation Expert Group announced the list of members of the expert group at a briefing for member states. Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was selected. What is China's comment?
Hua Chunying: Academician Zhong Nanshan is an authoritative expert in the field of infectious disease prevention and control in China. He enjoys a high reputation. I believe that the professionalism and experience of Academician Zhong Nanshan will provide help and make positive contributions to the work of the WHO new crown pneumonia epidemic response evaluation team. contribution.
At present, the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still spreading globally, and fighting the epidemic is still a top priority for all countries. It requires coordinated efforts at the global, regional, and national levels, and the WHO's central coordinating role in response to the epidemic should be given full play.
The Paper: On the 3rd, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ortegas issued a statement announcing the next steps for the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and redistribute U.S. resources, including reforming the remaining funds to be paid to WHO dues in fiscal year 2020. Used to pay other UN dues and gradually reduce contact with WHO, etc. In response to the new crown epidemic and other health crises of decades, the WHO has seriously failed and refused to carry out much-needed reforms, which should begin by demonstrating its independence from China. How does China respond to this?
Hua Chunying: The U.S. continues to blame the outside world for its response to the epidemic, including China and the World Health Organization.
We have said many times that the timeline and facts of China’s fight against the epidemic are clear. Americans often say that “China had a chance to contain the epidemic.” But what I want to say is that in the face of the new crown pneumonia virus. Unknown fierce virus, we shared the information we have learned with the world in the shortest time, and controlled the development and spread of the epidemic with the most resolute prevention and control measures in the shortest time.
It should be said that China handed in satisfactory answers in this closed-book examination.
When the United States closed its borders to all Chinese citizens on February 2, only a dozen confirmed cases were announced by the United States.
The United States has every opportunity to better prevent the spread of the epidemic in the United States.
But as of yesterday, the number of confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in the United States exceeded 6.11 million, and the cumulative death toll has exceeded 185,000.
People cannot help asking: The United States had a chance to do better. What caused the epidemic in the United States to develop to this situation?
I think this question is thought-provoking.
Many domestic media, experts, and people from all walks of life have made many comments.
Those in the United States should do more self-reflection, be responsible for their own people, respect science, respect facts, and take more effective actions to save as many American lives as possible.
As for the U.S.'s constant criticism of the WHO, everyone knows that the WHO is an international organization composed of 194 sovereign countries. It cannot serve a certain country. It shouldn't be a country that pays more and succumbs to it. Which country’s will.
The current epidemic is still spreading around the world, and fighting the epidemic is still the top priority of all countries, requiring coordinated efforts at the global regional and national levels.
In the current epidemic, any suppression or even blackmail of the WHO is a disregard for life, humanitarian challenges, and damage to international anti-epidemic cooperation will not be accepted by the international community.
As the most authoritative and professional international organization in the field of global public health security, WHO plays an indispensable central coordinating role in responding to the global new crown pneumonia epidemic.
We hope that the U.S. will not continue to blame others for its own epidemic prevention mistakes. This approach of the U.S. is not conducive to its own epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic, but also undermines international anti-epidemic efforts. It will also bring to developing countries that desperately need international support. Serious negative effects.
We urge the United States to fulfill its due international responsibilities and obligations. We also call on the international community to further build consensus on multilateralism, increase support and investment in WHO, and jointly maintain global public health security.
Shenzhen Satellite TV reporter: According to reports, the International Criminal Court announced that the US Secretary of State Pompeo will continue to investigate US military war crimes in Afghanistan and announced sanctions against his officials. An unprecedented serious attack on the rule of law. Yesterday, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Borelli issued a statement criticizing the US’s attempt to obstruct the investigation and proceedings of the International Criminal Court, which is unprecedented and unacceptable. French Foreign Minister Le Drian stated that this is a serious attack on the signatories of the International Criminal Court and the "Rome Statute" and a challenge to multilateralism and judicial independence. In addition, the spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary-General said that Secretary-General Guterres expressed concern over the relevant US decision. What is China's comment?
Hua Chunying: I have noticed relevant reports.
This proves once again that today's US diplomacy has degenerated into sanctions diplomacy, coercion diplomacy, and intimidation diplomacy.
This also shows once again that the United States puts its own interests above international law and is becoming the "destroyer" of multilateralism and the "terminator" of international rules and order.
Such unilateral bullying by the United States is being opposed and resolutely resisted by more and more people in the international community.
CCTV reporter: The U.S. State Department released the latest Xinjiang-related content, accusing China on issues such as human rights, religion, "forced labor" and "compulsory birth control" in Xinjiang. How does China respond to this?
Hua Chunying: The United States has repeatedly talked about the old tune and turned black and white on Xinjiang-related issues.
China has repeatedly exposed those baseless malicious lies with facts.
I would like to emphasize once again that Xinjiang-related issues are definitely not ethnic, religious, or human rights issues, but are anti-violent, terror, and anti-separatism issues.
In the past few years, Xinjiang has suffered greatly from terrorism and religious extremism, and the people’s lives have been seriously threatened.
The Xinjiang Autonomous Region has carried out preventive counter-terrorism through vocational skills education and training, achieved de-radicalization, effectively curbed the tendency of frequent terrorist activities, and guaranteed the rights to life, health and development of all ethnic groups to the greatest extent.
There has not been another terrorist attack in Xinjiang in the past four years.
As for the various slanders of the US, such as "forced labor" and "compulsory birth control", the facts are there.
Xinjiang migrant workers are part of the vast majority of workers in China, and their rights and interests are protected by the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Labor Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China. How can there be any “forced labor”?
In the past 40 years, the Uyghur population in Xinjiang has grown from 5.55 million to more than 12 million.
From 2010 to 2018, the population of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang grew by more than 22%, which was much higher than the 13.9% increase in the entire Xinjiang population. Where did "compulsory birth control" come from?
On average, Xinjiang owns a mosque for every 530 Muslims. This ratio exceeds that of many Muslim countries. How can it “suppress religious freedom”?
The U.S. continues to make vicious lies on Xinjiang-related issues, simply to contain China's development and undermine China's stability.
The vicious lies concocted by some American politicians and their ulterior political attempts can be clearly seen by anyone who has been to Xinjiang and has a little basic rationality and independent judgment.
We urge the United States to stop engaging in political manipulation, stop fabricating Xinjiang-related lies, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs through Xinjiang-related issues.
No matter how the U.S. concocts lies, China's determination to firmly defend its national sovereignty, security and development interests will not waver, and the U.S. attempt to undermine Xinjiang's prosperity and stability and contain China's development and progress will not succeed.
Beijing Daily reporter: According to reports, in an interview with Fox News and other media on September 2, US Secretary of State Pompeo once again mentioned China's "exploitation" of the United States, destroying American jobs, demanding China to be responsible for the epidemic, and the United States restricting the activities of Chinese diplomats. , And claimed that the United States has "benefited" to China for 40 years. The United States has had enough of this. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Hua Chunying: Pompeo is a liar, disregarding basic facts, ignoring the most basic morals, day after day, spare no effort, unscrupulous, tireless slander and smear China, and his intention to serve his own political self-interest is clearly revealed.
As Secretary of State of the United States, Pompeo's actions not only severely damaged personal credibility, but also smeared the international credibility and image of the United States. In fact, it has become a notorious negative teaching material in international relations.
Pompeo's argument that China is "exploiting" the United States and destroying American jobs is completely nonsense.
Over the past 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Sino-US cooperation has brought tremendous benefits to both peoples.
Statistics show that China-US economic and trade cooperation has supported more than 2.6 million jobs in the United States, and the trade between the two countries saves each American family about $850 in living costs each year.
The nature of Sino-US economic and trade relations is mutually beneficial and win-win.
Does a big Congress like the United States allow other countries to exploit it?
And for decades after exploitation?
Do you think Americans have such a character?
The answer is obviously no.
On the issue of anti-epidemic, the Chinese government insists that the people are supreme and life is supreme, and the anti-epidemic answer sheets handed over can withstand the test of history and time.
The United States has the world's best medical resources, with tens of thousands of new confirmed cases and hundreds of deaths every day.
In the face of such a serious epidemic, some American politicians such as Pompeo have repeatedly blamed China in an attempt to divert the attention of the American people.
If they still have a minimum sense of responsibility, they should stop throwing blame, respect facts, respect science, stop political manipulation, and concentrate on fighting the domestic epidemic in the United States.
Regarding the restrictions imposed by the United States on the normal performance of duties of Chinese diplomats in the United States, yesterday I stated China’s solemn position.
The actions of the United States are unfounded by law, unreasonable, and unreasonable.
We urge the US to immediately revoke the wrong decision, stop obstructing normal personnel exchanges between the two countries, and stop disrupting bilateral relations.
China will make a proper and necessary response in accordance with the development of the situation.
As for your mention of Pompeo's saying that the United States has "kneeled" to China in the past 40 years, I don't know why Pompeo put the United States in such a position to look up to China, but this is not true.
China is a country of etiquette. We have always advocated that all countries, big or small, should treat each other as equals.
On the contrary, the United States has for a long time been arrogant and wanton bullying against other countries, using force or threats or sanctions with force at will. The international community has a right and wrong view of this.
We urge Pompeo to respect basic facts and stop chattering against China.
Global Times reporter: US Attorney General Barr said in an interview on the 2nd that China poses a greater threat than Russia and Iran in terms of foreign interference in the US election. What is China's comment?
Hua Chunying: This is another example of US "liing diplomacy".
We don't want the US to save others by itself.
Unlike the United States, China has no genes for interfering in other countries' internal affairs, nor does it have any interest or willingness to interfere in other countries' internal affairs.
It seems that some American politicians are determined to talk about China. They can't wait to tell all kinds of lies. They may still be busy searching for and concocting all kinds of evidence.
What I want to say is that there is a "big drama" around the election in the United States, and we are already dazzled by it.
They just want to play these games by themselves, and China does not want to be involved.
Agence France-Presse: The lawyer of the Australian writer Yang Jun who was arrested last year said that he was allowed to meet with Yang Jun. Why did China not allow Yang Jun to meet with his lawyer until this week?
Hua Chunying: According to information from relevant departments, the Yang Jun case is still being processed.
China is a country under the rule of law. The Chinese competent authorities act in strict accordance with the law and fully protect the legal rights of relevant personnel.
As far as I know, China maintains an open consular communication channel with Australia and provides necessary assistance for Australia to perform its consular duties.
CCTV reporter: UN Secretary-General Guterres recently wrote to member states, stating that the UN is facing serious financial difficulties, with arrears of USD 1.52 billion. Secretary-General Guterres called on Member States to pay their dues in full and on time to provide support for the UN to complete this year's tasks. What is China's comment?
Hua Chunying: As a contributor to the second conference of the United Nations, China has always fully fulfilled its financial obligations to the United Nations. It has paid this year's United Nations dues in full, showing its support to the United Nations with practical actions.
We will continue to earnestly fulfill our financial obligations as a developing country to the United Nations.
China is highly concerned about the current financial difficulties faced by the United Nations, and expressed concern that the huge dues gap may affect the normal work of the United Nations.
The United States is the largest country in arrears with long-term arrears of dues. The arrears account for more than two-thirds of the total arrears of various countries, which is the main reason for the financial difficulties of the United Nations.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. It is in the common interest of all parties to adhere to multilateralism, safeguard the core role of the United Nations in international affairs, and jointly respond to global challenges through solidarity and cooperation.
China is willing to work with other countries to actively support the work of the United Nations and jointly promote the United Nations to play a greater role in promoting world peace and development.
Agence France-Presse: An expert on the special mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council issued an open letter saying that the Hong Kong National Security Law is a serious threat to fundamental freedoms. What's your response to this?
Hua Chunying: What I want to emphasize is that Hong Kong's national security legislation is not a human rights issue at all.
The purpose of enacting the Hong Kong National Security Law is to plug the legal loopholes in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in terms of national security, to prevent, stop and rectify the four types of crimes that seriously endanger national security. It punishes a very small number and protects the vast majority.
The rights and freedoms enjoyed by the residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the law are not affected in any way. Therefore, they are generally supported and welcomed by Hong Kong residents.
Some people disregard the facts, maliciously slander China's human rights situation, openly politicize human rights issues, and grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, which seriously violates the authorization of the special human rights mechanism and the code of conduct.
China firmly opposes and totally rejects this.
We urge these people to respect the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abandon ignorance, prejudice and double standards, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs in any way.
TASS reporter: According to reports, during the SCO event in Moscow today, Indian Defense Minister Singh will meet with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe. It is said that the two sides will discuss the Sino-Indian border issue. Can you confirm and provide more details?
Hua Chunying: I don't know the situation you mentioned. I suggest you contact the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.
Regarding the issues left over from the history of the China-India border and the existing problems, we have always advocated peaceful and friendly consultations to find a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution.
Regarding the recent events in the border area, China and India are maintaining close communication through diplomatic and military channels.
We hope to properly resolve relevant issues with India through consultations and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border area.
This is in the interests of the Chinese and Indian peoples.