Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's regular press conference on April 21, 2021
CCTV reporter: The spokesman of the Chadian military said that President Deby was killed while fighting the rebels. What is China's comment? Will you express condolences to Cha? Do you have any comments on the current situation in Chad?
Wang Wenbin: During his lifetime, President Deby attached great importance to the development of relations with China and made positive contributions to promoting friendly cooperation between China and Chakra.
China expresses its deep condolences for his unfortunate passing, and sincere condolences to the Chadian people and relatives of President Deby.
China cherishes the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Chad, and hopes that all parties in Chad will work together to maintain peace and stability in Chad.
Indian Broadcasting Corporation reporter: Recently, the Indian ambassador to China stated at a dialogue on China-India relations that there is a tendency to cover up the Sino-Indian border issue. Some people think that this is just a small issue in Sino-Indian bilateral relations. However, the ambassador himself believes that this kind of thinking is undesirable because it avoids the problem and runs counter to the prospect of developing a close partnership between China and India. Regarding the above statement, what comment does China have?
Wang Wenbin: China’s position on the China-India border issue is consistent and clear. It has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability in the border area, and has always firmly upheld the country’s territorial sovereignty and security.
Recently, China and India have maintained close communication through diplomatic and military channels, and on the basis of disengaging the Kalwan Valley and Bangong Lake regions, they have frankly and in-depth exchanged views on promoting the resolution of remaining issues in the western section of the border.
It is hoped that the Indian side will meet the Chinese side halfway, focus on the overall situation of the long-term development of China-India relations, put the border issue in an appropriate position in bilateral relations, and push China-India relations back to the track of healthy and stable development.
"Global Times" reporter: A few days ago, the Fiji government policy adviser and Fiji National University scholar Wilam published a series of column articles in the "Fiji Sun", positively commenting on the "Belt and Road" initiative, refuting the "debt trap" and "geopolitical tools" Arguments such as that have attracted wide attention from all walks of life in Pacific island countries. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Wang Wenbin: I have noticed the relevant article. The author has comprehensively sorted out the fruitful results of practical cooperation between China and Pacific island countries in various fields under the framework of the “Belt and Road”, and refuted the groundless accusations and false arguments of the “Belt and Road”. The "One Belt One Road" initiative is of great significance to island countries' economic development, improvement of people's livelihood, promotion of regional integration, and integration into economic globalization.
At present, China has signed a memorandum of understanding on co-construction of the "Belt and Road" cooperation with all 10 Pacific island countries that have established diplomatic relations.
Facts have proved that the "Belt and Road" is an international public product that meets the actual needs of island countries and is sincerely welcomed by island countries. It is by no means "wishful thinking" or "imposed on others" by China; it is an open and inclusive economic cooperation initiative, and it is by no means a closed and exclusive "geopolitics". Tools"; practical cooperation projects that are tangible and tangible. They are by no means "white elephant projects" or "blank checks"; they are projects that benefit the people's livelihood and are not the so-called "debt trap".
As President Xi Jinping pointed out in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia 2021 Annual Conference yesterday, the “Belt and Road” is a sunny avenue for everyone to move forward hand in hand, not a private path of one party. The pursuit is development and advocacy. It is a win-win situation, and it conveys hope.
China will continue to practice the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road” with all parties including Pacific island countries, and strive to build a “road to poverty reduction” and a “road to growth.
"South China Morning Post" reporter: A few days ago, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the assessment of the conclusion that "the virus is extremely unlikely to leak from the laboratory" in the China-WHO Joint Expert Group Traceability Study Report is not sufficient. Further research is needed and preparations are made to send experts in related fields to China. An anonymous joint expert group expert said in an interview with a Hubei media that he was "surprised and dissatisfied" with the Director General's remarks. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: The World Health Organization released the China-WHO Joint Expert Group Traceability Research Report on March 30, clarifying the conclusion that it is extremely unlikely that the virus leaked from the laboratory.
This report is co-written by more than 30 top experts in various fields around the world, which is broadly representative and highly professional.
The joint expert group has been conducting research independently, writing reports independently, following WHO procedures, adopting scientific methods, and submitting reports that are authoritative and scientific.
What I want to emphasize is that China is conducting joint traceability scientific research with the WHO at the request of the WHO.
Many international experts have stated on different occasions that "a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely" and there is no so-called difficulty in obtaining raw data.
All parties should respect science and respect the opinions and conclusions of scientists.
In this regard, WHO in particular should play a leading role.
Yonhap News Agency reporter: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga offered sacrifices to the Yasukuni Shrine on the 21st. What's China's response to this?
Wang Wenbin: The Yasukuni Shrine enshrines Class-A war criminals who were directly responsible for Japan's foreign war of aggression. We have always resolutely opposed the wrong practices of Japanese political leaders.
China urges Japan to abide by the principles of the four political documents of China and Japan, earnestly implement the consensus on the four principles of China and Japan, face up to and deeply reflect on the history of aggression, draw a clear line with militarism, and take concrete actions to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.
U.S. Topic News Agency reporter: President Xi Jinping will attend the leaders’ climate summit in the United States on Thursday. Does this indicate that China and the United States will cooperate in areas such as climate change?
Wang Wenbin: We have already released the news about President Xi Jinping's attendance at the leaders' climate summit.
At the invitation of U.S. President Biden, President Xi Jinping will attend the leaders’ climate summit in Beijing on April 22 and deliver an important speech.
China expects that this summit will provide a useful platform for global cooperation to address climate change challenges, promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, and jointly promote global climate and environmental governance.
Reporter from the Indian Broadcasting Corporation: You just said that India and China want to "put the border issue in the proper place in their bilateral relations", but this is exactly the opposite of the idea of the Indian ambassador to China. He believes this is undesirable. Do you have any comment on the different views of China and India on this issue?
Wang Wenbin: I have just introduced China's position.
I would like to reiterate that we hope that the Indian side will meet the Chinese side halfway, focus on the overall long-term development of China-India relations, cherish the current hard-won trend of easing the temperature in the Sino-Indian border area, and take practical actions to maintain peace and tranquility in the border area and promote China-India. The relationship is back on track of healthy and stable development.
Agence France-Presse reporter: A cybersecurity company said that at least two Chinese hacker groups have tried to hack into the systems of US defense industry companies. One of them is believed to be related to the Chinese government. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: I want to emphasize three points:
First, cyberspace is highly virtual, difficult to trace, and diverse actors. The investigation and characterization of cyber incidents should be based on sufficient evidence, and no unreasonable guesses should be made.
In fact, we have all seen that the United States is the world’s largest "Matrix" and "Eavesdropping Empire".
China firmly opposes any organization or country using cybersecurity issues to pour dirty water on China or to achieve their political goals.
Second, the Chinese government resolutely prohibits and severely cracks down on various forms of hacking. This position is consistent and clear.
Hacking is a global problem that requires the cooperation of the international community to deal with it.
Third, in September last year, China launched the "Global Data Security Initiative", which contributed to the formulation of global digital governance rules, and received positive responses from many countries in the world.
Last month, China and Arab countries jointly issued the "China-Arab Data Security Cooperation Initiative", and the Arab countries in the Middle East became the first region in the world to jointly issue data security initiatives with China.
China is willing to strengthen communication with other countries and jointly maintain global data and network security through dialogue and cooperation.
Press Trust of India: When you answered the question about the border between China and India, you said that China and India should cherish the process of disengagement between the two sides in the eastern region of Ladakh. We know that the Bangong Lake area has begun to disengage, but the other three areas have not yet begun. Can China explain the reason?
Wang Wenbin: I have just introduced China's principled position on relevant issues.
What I want to emphasize is that in the near future, China and India have maintained close communication through diplomatic and military channels. On the basis of achieving disengagement from the Kalwan Valley and Pangong Lake region, they have frankly and in-depth exchanged views on promoting the resolution of the remaining issues in the western section of the border. .
We hope that the Indian side and the Chinese side will meet each other halfway, abide by the relevant agreements and agreements reached by the two countries and the two militaries and the consensus reached by both sides, and take concrete actions to maintain peace and tranquility in the border area.
"China Daily" reporter: On the 20th, South Korean Foreign Minister Jeong Yi-yong said that South Korea firmly opposes Japan's discharge of polluted water from the Fukushima nuclear accident into the ocean and will promote discussion of this matter on the international stage. According to another report, Tokyo Electric Power Company stated that it intends to submit a detailed schedule before the start of the discharge of nuclear contaminated water as soon as May. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: China has taken note of the report that Tokyo Electric Power Co., Ltd. intends to submit a nuclear-contaminated water discharge schedule as soon as May. Japan has unilaterally promoted the Fukushima nuclear accident without full consultation with the international community, especially neighboring countries. The polluted water discharged into the sea expresses strong dissatisfaction and serious concern.
The disposal of polluted water from the Fukushima nuclear accident is related to the safety of the Asia-Pacific region and the global ecological environment, as well as the lives and health of the people of all countries. It should seek the opinions of all stakeholders, especially the neighboring countries of Japan and after full consultation, it should also be discussed in the United Nations and the world. Evaluation and discussion within the framework of the Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Regardless of the doubts and opposition of the international community, Japan has violated its international responsibilities and tried to drain nuclear sewage and spread environmental, health and safety risks to the world.
This kind of behavior is opaque, unscientific, unlawful, irresponsible, and unethical, and is a risk to the world.
I have seen relevant information showing that there have been many major public hazards in Japan, causing serious damage to the lives of the people.
According to reports, the Japanese government announced on the 19th of this month that the black raccoon in the waters of Fukushima Prefecture was banned from listing due to the detection of radioactive substances exceeding the standard.
This is another fish with excessive radioactive substances found in the Fukushima waters after February this year.
This shows that the disposal of radionuclides is very complicated and difficult.
At the same time, it also shows that the authenticity of the so-called safe disposal and unilaterally provided information and data claimed by the Japanese side needs attention and verification.
The Japanese side should learn from the lesson and correct the unilateral wrong decision to dispose of the Fukushima nuclear sewage by way of drainage, and not let the people of the world pay for Japan's wrongdoing.
Bloomberg reporter: TikTok is facing a lawsuit in the UK. It is accused of violating UK and EU privacy protection laws. TikTok said the allegations were unfounded. What is China's comment?
Wang Wenbin: I don't know the relevant situation.
What I want to emphasize is that the Chinese government has always advocated that companies operating overseas should strictly abide by international rules and laws and regulations of the host country, and fully respect local customs and religious beliefs.