China News Service, September 23. According to the news on the website of the Chinese Embassy in France on the 23rd, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye announced the establishment of the so-called trilateral "security partnership" by the United States, Australia and Britain, and the resulting France-Australia" "Submarine crisis" was interviewed by the Russian Satellite News Agency.
Image source: Screenshot of the website of the Chinese Embassy in France.
The transcript of the interview is as follows:
Reporter: Is this "submarine crisis" (erupted between France, the United States, and Australia) good news for Sino-French relations?
Ambassador Lu: It cannot be said that it is good news for a certain country.
I think this incident has indeed had an impact on US-European relations, and the relations between France, the US and Australia are the first to bear the brunt.
This is an incident within the Western Alliance.
Such a sky-high arms deal is not conducive to world peace and stability.
Countries should not engage in an arms race.
Reporter: In your opinion, does the Australia-UK-US trilateral alliance target China?
Ambassador Lu: Yes.
We did see that although this alliance did not clearly express its intentions against China, everyone knows that this alliance is located in the Asia-Pacific region and is aimed at China.
Engaging in a closed and exclusive "small circle" goes against the trend of the times, and the Chinese government has always opposed it.
We believe that any regional mechanism should help to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between countries in the region, and should not stress conflicts and create confrontations, and should not target third parties, let alone harm the interests of other countries.
The tri-nation alliance of Australia, Britain and the United States is not in line with the general trend of the times and is destined to not be supported by regional countries.
You may have noticed that Malaysia and Indonesia have already expressed their opposition.
In addition, the export of nuclear submarines by the United States and the United Kingdom to a non-nuclear country like Australia constitutes nuclear proliferation, threatens peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and seriously undermines international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
The United States has always said that it wants to maintain a "rules-based international order," but now it has openly trampled on international nuclear non-proliferation rules.
This is extremely irresponsible.
Reporter: The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the agreement reached by Australia, Britain and the United States shows a Cold War mentality.
Do you think France upholds a non-aligned position?
Ambassador Lu: France is not non-aligned, but an ally of the United States and a member of the Western alliance.
Of course, in China's view, the Cold War mentality is attributable to the closed, exclusive "small circles" and the intensification of contradictions.
Peace and development are the trend of the current era.
Countries in the world have in fact become a community with a shared future. Human beings live in the same global village, and there is no need to oppose each other.
Some countries are obsessed with forming "small groups" and confront other countries. This practice goes against the trend of the times.
Reporter: Is France's stance on China different from the US strategy on China?
Ambassador Lu: The relationship between China and France is maintained at a high level. Both sides regard each other as comprehensive strategic partners. This will not change due to the trilateral alliance of Australia, Britain and the United States.
The heads of state of China and France have maintained regular contacts, providing strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations.
This incident once again shows that "a big country must look like a big country."
What is "the appearance of a big country"?
It is to consolidate world peace, promote common development, maintain the international order with the United Nations at its core, and respect the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and France shoulder the responsibility of maintaining international peace and stability, promoting global development, and promoting multilateralism.
China and France should and can fully strengthen cooperation, which is in the interests of all countries in the world.
Reporter: How will China respond to the Trilateral Alliance of Australia, Britain and the United States?
Ambassador Lu: We have already expressed our opposition.
The export of highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology runs counter to international nuclear non-proliferation efforts, threatens regional peace and stability, and intensifies regional arms race, which is extremely dangerous.
We ask Australia, Britain and the United States to stop such actions that undermine international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.