Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's regular press conference on February 5, 2021
Finnish Broadcasting Corporation reporter: Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin expressed serious concern over the abuse of Uyghur women in Xinjiang’s “re-education camps” reported by the BBC. How does China respond to this?
Wang Wenbin: We have repeatedly clarified China's position on the BBC's unfair, unobjective, and irresponsible reports on Xinjiang-related issues.
We hope that relevant parties can distinguish right from wrong, not be deceived and misled by false news and biased reports, and treat relevant issues objectively and rationally.
CCTV reporter: Recently, Xinhua News Agency published "The Truth and Lies on Xinjiang-related Issues." What's your comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: Just now the Finnish reporter asked about Xinjiang-related issues. It seems that Xinhua News Agency published this material in a timely manner.
I also saw this material, which enumerated detailed data and rich cases about Xinjiang, and responded to some typical Xinjiang-related rumors and lies, such as the BBC’s false reports on Xinjiang.
Xinjiang, China is a good place.
56 ethnic groups hug each other like pomegranate seeds and build their own beautiful homes together.
At present, Xinjiang’s society is generally stable, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and unprecedented achievements have been made in economic and social development and in improving people’s livelihood.
However, for some time, some anti-China forces in the United States and the West have turned black and white, fabricated from nothing, fabricated and spread a large number of Xinjiang-related false information, smeared China's image, slandered the Chinese government's Xinjiang policy, interfered in China's internal affairs, attempted to deceive the international community and interfere with Xinjiang's stable development.
A lie will not become the truth if it is repeated a thousand times.
The overwhelming majority of people in the world are discerning and will look at Xinjiang’s development achievements and China’s Xinjiang policies in an objective and fair view.
It is recommended that you read carefully to understand the facts and truths about Xinjiang, and do not be deceived by lies.
Here I want to take a moment to share with you the truth about Xinjiang-related issues in this material.
For example, the Xinjiang-related lies spread by the BBC and Adrian Zenz are disclosed in this material.
For another example, the "Australian Broadcasting Corporation" once reported that the Chinese citizen Aizmat Wumail living in Australia and his father, stepmother, three brothers, two sisters and more than 20 nephews, nieces, nephews and nieces in Xinjiang "Lost connection".
However, after inspection, it was found that all his relatives in China were living normally.
For another example, some people say that Xinjiang uses combating terrorism as an excuse to suppress ethnic minorities.
But the truth is that, according to incomplete statistics, from 1990 to the end of 2016, ethnic separatist forces, religious extremist forces, and violent terrorist forces planned and implemented thousands of violent and terrorist cases in Xinjiang, resulting in the murder of a large number of innocent people, hundreds of people. The public security police died in duty and the property losses could not be estimated, which brought serious disasters to the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.
China's Xinjiang actively responded to a series of anti-terrorism documents such as the "United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy," and severely cracked down on violent terrorist activities that violated citizens' human rights, endangered public security, undermined national unity, and divided the country.
Since 2014, a total of 1,588 violent and terrorist gangs have been destroyed, 12995 violent terrorists have been arrested, and 2,052 explosive devices have been seized. Extremist penetration has been effectively curbed, and the rights to life, health, and development of all ethnic groups have been protected to the greatest extent. Such as basic rights, Xinjiang has not had violent terrorist cases for more than four consecutive years.
Others said that Chinese embassies and consulates abroad did not renew passports for overseas Uyghurs, forcing them to return to the country to accept extrajudicial detention or imprisonment.
But the fact is that the personal freedom and right of entry and exit of Chinese citizens are protected by law.
As long as they are citizens of Chinese nationality and recognize that they are Chinese citizens and have not violated Chinese laws and regulations, they can apply to the Chinese embassy or consulate in their place of residence for passport replacement or reissuance.
Chinese embassies and consulates abroad handle related businesses in accordance with the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Exit and Entry Administration", "The Passport Law of the People's Republic of China" and other laws and regulations to protect the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese including all ethnic groups in accordance with the law.
People from Xinjiang who apply to Chinese embassies and consulates abroad for passport renewal or reissuance have been accepted and approved if they comply with relevant laws after examination and approval.
The above cited a few examples to introduce the truth about Xinjiang-related issues.
We welcome more interested foreigners to visit Xinjiang to see the development and changes there and feel the real Xinjiang.
We also call on all media that uphold an objective and fair stand and abide by professional ethics to tell the truth about Xinjiang through paper, pen, lens, and microphone, and expose all kinds of lies and rumors related to Xinjiang.
Bloomberg News: In his speech, US President Biden called China "the most serious competitor" of the United States. The United States will face China's challenges to the United States on economic, human rights, and intellectual property violations. But Biden also said that the United States is willing to cooperate with China when it is in the interests of the United States. What is China's response to President Biden's remarks?
Wang Wenbin: We have noticed relevant reports.
Peaceful development and win-win cooperation are the current trend of the times and the common aspiration of all countries.
China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.
China's development is the growth of world peace forces.
China will actively develop friendly and cooperative relations with other countries, promote the building of a new type of international relations, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
As two major countries, China and the United States have extensive common interests in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity, and shoulder special and important responsibilities.
Like any other country's relationship, differences between China and the United States are inevitable, but the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences.
The cooperation between China and the United States can accomplish many important things that benefit both countries and the world.
In the face of global challenges such as the new crown pneumonia epidemic and climate change, the areas where China and the United States can and must cooperate are not reduced, but more and broader.
China is committed to developing a relationship with the US that is non-conflict, non-confrontational, mutually respectful, and win-win cooperation. At the same time, China will continue to firmly safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security, and development interests.
It is hoped that the U.S. will follow the public opinion of the two countries and the trend of the times, treat China and China-U.S. relations in an objective and rational manner, adopt a positive and constructive policy toward China, meet China halfway, focus on cooperation, manage differences, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations. , To join hands with other countries and the international community to advance the noble cause of world peace and development.
British Independent Television News reporter: What is the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the withdrawal of the permission of China International Television Station (CGTN) in the UK?
Wang Wenbin: Based on ideological prejudice, the British Communications Authority (Ofcom) suppressed the spread of CGTN in the UK on political grounds, politicized technical issues, severely damaged the reputation of Chinese media, and seriously interfered with normal cultural exchanges between the two countries.
China firmly opposes this.
As an international professional media organization, CGTN in the UK strictly abides by British laws and regulations, abides by the professional ethics of journalism, and conducts news reports based on the principles of objectivity, fairness, truthfulness and accuracy. Its professionalism is recognized internationally.
For more than ten years in the UK, CGTN has abided by professional ethics and has developed good cooperation with the UK. Its business conforms to the law of communication, and has played an active role in enhancing the understanding and communication between the people of China and the UK, and promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries. .
On the one hand, the British side advertises freedom of the press, on the other hand, it disregards the facts and interferes with the spread of CGTN in the UK. This is a naked double standard and political repression.
China urges Britain to immediately stop political manipulation and correct its mistakes.
China reserves the right to make necessary responses and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese media.
Hong Kong China Review News Agency: According to media reports, on February 4 local time, the Guyana government issued a statement stating that Guyana will continue to follow the one-China principle and maintain its diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. The Guyanese government has not established any "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and terminated Taiwan's agreement to establish a "Taiwan Office" in Guyana. What is China's comment? In addition, the U.S. Embassy in Guyana and the "American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office" have previously expressed welcome to Taiwan's establishment in Guyana. What's China's comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
China firmly opposes any form of official exchanges between any country with diplomatic ties and Taiwan.
The Guyana government upholds the correct position of the one-China principle and announced the termination of the "agreement" related to Taiwan's establishment of institutions in Guyana, and reiterated that it attaches importance to the development of friendly relations with China and does not establish so-called official relations with Taiwan.
The timely correction of mistakes by the Guyanese side is conducive to the overall situation of bilateral relations.
The Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party authorities deliberately use the guise of unofficial activities such as economic, trade and cultural activities to seek "Taiwan independence" and expand "international space" in a vain attempt to deceive the world and deceive the world.
Facts have once again proved that the one-China principle is a universally recognized norm of international relations and the universal consensus of the international community. Taiwan’s separatist acts and clumsy performances are unpopular, ugly faces are exposed, and they are destined to be laughable and generous.
Relevant U.S. officials have made gravely erroneous remarks in violation of the principles of international law and norms of international relations. China firmly opposes this.
The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is purely China's internal affairs and does not allow any interference from outside forces.
We urge the US to correct its mistakes, to abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiqués with concrete actions, and be cautious in its words and deeds.
"Daily Telegraph" reporter: According to the "Daily Telegraph" report, three Chinese nationals who are considered to be intelligence personnel of the Chinese Ministry of National Security came to the UK under the pretext of working for the Chinese official media. In the past year, they were deported from the UK. We asked the Chinese Embassy in the UK, but did not get a reply. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respond to this?
Wang Wenbin: I have never heard of the situation you mentioned.
What I know is that Chinese journalists based in the UK abide by local laws to conduct interviews and reports, but the British side, out of ideological prejudice, has unreasonably suppressed the Chinese media.
The Paper Journalist: Yesterday you refuted the BBC report on the systematic sexual assault and abuse of women in Xinjiang. A spokesperson for the US State Department claimed that China had committed "crimes against humanity" and "genocide" in Xinjiang, and someone must bear the serious consequences. What is your response to this?
Wang Wenbin: Yesterday, I gave an example of the truth about the BBC’s false reports on Xinjiang.
The "Lies and Facts About Xinjiang-related Issues" issued by Xinhua News Agency further refutes the smearing of Xinjiang by relevant parties and people. I suggest you read it carefully.
The BBC once again published such a sensational report without verification, which is a serious violation of journalistic ethics and self-destructive reputation.
Some countries base their groundless accusations on China based on the BBC’s false reports. This approach is irresponsible and unacceptable.
In the eyes of some people, it seems that as long as the BBC broadcast is true, as long as it happens in Xinjiang, it must be bad.
This is totally a prejudice without distinction between right and wrong, which runs counter to facts and truth.
We want to ask the US, what is the real evidence for your accusations against China?
If so, take it out!
We urge the US to respect the facts, stop making groundless accusations, and stop making irresponsible or even ulterior motives.
"Global Times" reporter: WHO experts have visited many places in Wuhan on the traceability of the new coronavirus. We have noticed reports that authoritative Chinese medical and health experts have called for the WHO to go to many countries and places around the world to conduct traceability investigations and research. "Wuhan should be only the first stop." How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: Virus tracing is a complex scientific issue involving many countries and places. Scientists around the world should work together to carry out related work.
China has always adhered to an open and transparent attitude and maintained close communication and cooperation with the WHO on global virus traceability.
Since the end of the centralized isolation on January 28, the international experts of the China-World Health Organization New Coronavirus Traceability Joint Expert Group have conducted field visits with Chinese experts and conducted multiple rounds of scientific, professional, and candid exchanges on scientific issues of common concern .
The Chinese government has provided strong support and assistance for this, and WHO and international experts have also given positive comments on this.
This visit of WHO experts to China is part of the global traceability research cooperation.
There are more and more reports in the international media that the virus and epidemic have appeared in many places around the world in the second half of 2019, reflecting the necessity and urgency of conducting similar investigations in other countries and regions.
We hope that all parties concerned will adopt an active, scientific and cooperative attitude on traceability issues, like China, and invite WHO experts to carry out traceability studies and make their own contributions to international anti-epidemic cooperation and the establishment of a human health community.
"Beijing Daily" reporter: On the 3rd, U.S. Secretary of State Blincoln issued a statement stating that the U.S. has taken the first step in this regard today and extended the U.S.-Russian "New START" for five years. The United States will also seek to advance arms control and reduce the dangers posed by China's expanding modern nuclear arsenal. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: China welcomes the US and Russia's extension of the "New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty" for five years.
This will help maintain global strategic stability, promote international peace and security, and meet the common expectations of the international community.
At the same time, as the country with the largest nuclear arsenal, the United States and Russia still account for more than 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons.
The two parties should follow international consensus to earnestly fulfill their special and priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament, and further substantially and substantially reduce their nuclear arsenals in a verifiable, irreversible and legally binding manner, so as to create conditions for the ultimate realization of complete nuclear disarmament.
The number of nuclear weapons in China is not in the same order as that of the United States and Russia. We firmly oppose the groundless accusations and smears made by the United States against China.
China firmly pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense, always maintains its nuclear force at the lowest level required for national security, always abides by not being the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and explicitly commits to unconditionally not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. Nuclear weapons.
China is the only nuclear-weapon state that has made the aforementioned commitments, which in itself is a major contribution to the international nuclear disarmament process.
China will continue to discuss broad issues related to strategic stability within the framework of cooperation among the five nuclear-weapon states, the Conference on Disarmament, and the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. It is also willing to discuss issues related to nuclear arms control with all parties through bilateral channels. Keep communicating.
Agence France-Presse: French President Macron said that China's vaccine-related information is lacking. If the Chinese vaccine is ineffective, it will accelerate the virus mutation. No clinical data of any Chinese vaccines have been shared. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: Actually, we have introduced China's scientific and responsible attitude on vaccine research and development many times.
The Chinese government has always put the safety and effectiveness of the new crown vaccine in the first place. Chinese vaccine research and development companies have always promoted vaccine research and development in strict accordance with scientific laws and regulatory requirements, and actively carry out international cooperation.
At present, the Phase III clinical trials of many Chinese vaccines overseas are progressing smoothly. Judging from the data of the Phase III clinical trials of Chinese vaccines published so far, the Chinese vaccines are effective and safe.
At the end of last year, the State Food and Drug Administration of China also formally approved the listing application of the new crown inactivated vaccine produced by Sinopharm Sinopharm.
At present, many countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Brazil and other countries have approved the use of Chinese vaccines, which have fully verified the safety and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines.
I also want to point out that China's vaccine research and development and production are at the forefront of the world, but China has never "sold" vaccines.
The international community should unite and form a joint force on the vaccine issue, rather than competing with each other.
We hope that all countries with the conditions will act as soon as possible, and work together to make vaccines a global public product, promote the fair distribution and use of vaccines around the world, and strive to overcome the epidemic as soon as possible.
Reuters reporter: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to publicly apologize for broadcasting fake news, but the BBC responded by insisting on its reporting methods. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comment on this?
Wang Wenbin: Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website released the news that the relevant person in charge of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made solemn representations to the person in charge of the BBC branch in Beijing regarding the broadcast of fake news about the epidemic.
We took note of the response from the BBC.
Here I can give you a further introduction to the BBC's release of false information on China-related issues.
For example, the BBC World News Channel’s news video on the new crown epidemic broadcast on January 26 linked the epidemic to politics, and then broadcasted a video of a counter-terrorism exercise as factual news about “violent law enforcement and human rights violations” by the Chinese defense epidemic department. Is it reported accurately?
WHO experts are cooperating with China to conduct research on the traceability of the virus. At the same time, news of the earlier outbreak of the epidemic has appeared in the media of various countries many times. The BBC still insists that Wuhan is the origin of the epidemic in the report. This is a fair report. ?
The BBC has long maliciously attacked and discredited the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government in the field of ideology. It has repeatedly broadcast fake news without factual basis, which has seriously deviated from the objective, balanced and fair position of media reports.
Yesterday I also used an example to introduce the BBC's practice of publishing false information on Xinjiang-related issues.
China is firmly opposed to this.
We urge the BBC to take effective measures to eliminate the adverse effects of related reports and apologize to China for fake news related to China.
At the same time, China reserves the right to take further measures.
Bloomberg reporter: Regarding the issue of CGTN and Ofcom, you just mentioned that China reserves the right to safeguard the rights and interests of the Chinese media and take legal countermeasures. What specific measures will China take?
Wang Wenbin: CGTN spread in the UK strictly abides by British laws and regulations, abides by the professional ethics of journalism, and carries out news reports based on the principles of objectivity, fairness, truthfulness and accuracy. Its professionalism is recognized internationally.
For a long time, some British media have published a large number of reports on China-related issues that deviate from the facts, contain ideological prejudices, and even rumors and false information.
On the one hand, the British side emphasized that the British Communications Authority is an independent professional organization, and the incident has no political considerations. On the other hand, it has blocked the landing of CGTN in the UK on the grounds of so-called party attributes, fully demonstrating that the relevant actions are purely political suppression and also exposed The double standards and hypocrisy of the British side.
We urge the British side to immediately stop political manipulation, change course, correct mistakes, and facilitate the normal news reporting of Chinese media in the UK.
China reserves the right to make necessary responses and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese media.
Reporter from the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation: Regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang, you just said that the relevant issues should be viewed objectively. However, the Finnish Prime Minister's attitude on the issue is serious. Will China discuss this issue with Finland?
Wang Wenbin: I explained China's position at the press conference yesterday.
Xinjiang is open, and what it does is upright, there is nothing to watch.
We welcome foreigners, including Finnish government officials, to take a walk and take a look in Xinjiang to learn about the real situation in Xinjiang.
I can tell you that in recent years, more than 1,200 people from more than 100 countries have visited Xinjiang and learned on the ground that Xinjiang’s economic development, ethnic harmony, and the legitimate rights and interests of the people of all ethnic groups have been effectively protected.
Not long ago, diplomatic envoys from 20 Arab countries to China and representatives of the Arab League in China visited Xinjiang and conducted candid exchanges with relevant parties in Xinjiang.
At the same time, I would like to point out that we welcome foreigners who uphold the principles of objectivity and fairness to go to Xinjiang for a walk, take a look, and understand the real situation in Xinjiang on the spot.
However, if someone tries to promote the so-called presumption of guilt in Xinjiang under the banner of "human rights", we do not welcome or accept this. This is our position.
It is hoped that relevant parties in Finland can distinguish right from wrong on this issue and not be misled by lies and smears.
Canadian Globe and Mail reporter: You mentioned that CGTN strictly abides by local laws and regulations, but Ofcom revoked CGTN's permission to land in the UK because CGTN is actually controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Are Ofcom's accusations untrue?
Wang Wenbin: I wonder if you saw CGTN's response to this matter?
CGTN stated that it has been in the UK for 18 years, and has been committed to enhancing communication and understanding between the people of China and the UK, and has maintained long-term and stable cooperative relations with many media-related organizations in the UK.
CGTN also expressed that in a positive and cooperative manner, it gave a detailed explanation to the British Communications Authority, and proposed the transfer of the landing permit to actively seek a proper solution.
Regarding the decision by the British Communications Authority on the grounds of CGTN’s political party nature, I would like to point out that each country’s national conditions are different, and the media management and operation methods are also different, but this should not be a hindrance among countries. An excuse for normal humanities exchanges.
China is a socialist country led by the Communist Party. The British side has always been aware of the nature of the Chinese media.
The British side has clearly known this since the first day CGTN landed and spread in the UK 18 years ago.
The British side is now arguing about the nature of the Chinese media and obstructing the spread of CGTN in the UK. This is completely political manipulation.
We urge the British side to correct its mistakes and facilitate the Chinese media’s normal news reporting in the UK.