Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian hosted a regular press conference on April 12, 2022
Photography: Xue Wei
Global Times reporter: According to a recent poll conducted by Global.com, nearly 90% of Chinese netizens surveyed believe that the US's position on the Ukraine issue is not fairness and justice, but hegemony and bullying. What is the spokesperson's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: I have noticed the relevant polls, which reflect the call for justice of the majority.
The Ukrainian issue has evolved to this day, and the ins and outs are very clear.
The actions of NATO led by the United States have gradually pushed the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to the crater.
Not only has the United States failed to take practical actions to ease the situation, but it has continued to add fuel to the fire, intensify contradictions, and force countries to choose sides and create a "chilling effect" that is either friend or foe.
Isn't this hegemonic bullying?
Not only that, the US has repeatedly spread false news, smeared and slandered China, distorted China's responsible stance to promote peace and promote talks, and attempted to shift contradictions, provoke confrontation, and take advantage of the opportunity to search for the conspiracy of "suppressing China and Russia at the same time." operating space.
Isn't this hegemonic bullying?
The U.S. hegemony and bullying behavior exposed by the Ukraine issue is only the tip of the iceberg of U.S.-style hegemony.
The United States adheres to the Cold War mentality, is keen to draw ideological lines, engages in closed and exclusive circles, and provokes confrontation. Its real purpose is to continue its hegemony and power.
Under the guise of democracy, freedom and human rights, the United States is used to instigating regional disputes by launching color revolutions and other means, and even directly launching foreign wars, exacerbating regional and global security tensions, and seeking huge economic interests and geopolitical advantages.
The United States also wields the stick of unilateral sanctions to suppress and contain other countries, engage in economic coercion, and seriously undermine the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain.
The U.S. uses international law and international rules if they conform to them or discards them if they don’t. The “rules-based order” that the U.S. advertises is the “help rules” for the U.S. to maintain its own power and hegemony.
Peaceful development is the general trend and the aspiration of the people.
The U.S. act of hegemony and bullying against the trend of the times has aroused stronger and stronger opposition and resistance from the international community.
The United States should face up to international public opinion including China, abandon the Cold War zero-sum mentality as soon as possible, abandon the outdated logic of pursuing absolute security at the expense of other countries' security, and return to the path of maintaining international fairness and justice.
The Paper: On April 12, Beijing time, the US State Department's website "China Travel Advice" indicated that the US had ordered its consulate general in Shanghai to evacuate non-emergency government employees and their families. This means that the United States has upgraded the previously announced "authorized withdrawal" to "mandatory withdrawal". What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: China has stated its position on the US "authorized evacuation" of some personnel and family members of its consulate general in Shanghai.
Whether it is "authorized evacuation" or "mandatory evacuation", it is the decision of the US side.
I would like to emphasize three points:
First, China's epidemic prevention policy is scientific and effective.
We have full confidence in Shanghai and other places to overcome the new round of the epidemic. Many foreign nationals in Shanghai, including the United States, are also united with the people of Shanghai to fight the epidemic and overcome the difficulties together.
Second, relevant departments and localities in China have been providing assistance and convenience to foreign diplomatic and consular personnel in China in the performance of their duties as far as possible in accordance with relevant international conventions and within the scope of policies.
Communication channels between China and the United States are also smooth.
Third, we express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the politicization and instrumentalization of the evacuation by the US, and have lodged solemn representations with the US.
The US should immediately stop attacking China's epidemic prevention policy, stop using the epidemic to engage in political manipulation, and stop smearing China.
Pakistan News Agency: On April 11, Shabazz Sharif was elected as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. How does China view China-Pakistan relations in the future?
Zhao Lijian: China congratulates Mr. Shabazz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and the relationship between the two countries is rock-solid and unbreakable.
China looks forward to working with the Pakistani side to continue the traditional friendship, deepen all-round cooperation, jointly build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with high quality, and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
Seoul TV, South Korea: According to South Korean media reports, the South Korean government discovered a mobile oil rig set up by China in the disputed waters between China and South Korea (the waters under tentative measures), and held a national security meeting to discuss how to deal with it. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: I am not aware of the relevant information you mentioned.
What I can tell you is that China and the ROK are advancing negotiations on maritime delimitation.
The two countries have also established a dialogue and cooperation mechanism on maritime affairs.
The two sides have maintained good communication on sea-related issues within the framework of the existing mechanism.
Bloomberg: Sri Lanka has taken unusual steps, including notifying creditors of a possible default on its debt and suspending some foreign debt payments to preserve dwindling U.S. dollar reserves and pay for food and fuel imports. At the same time, Sri Lanka plans to borrow 1 billion US dollars from China to repay the Chinese loan due in July. What is the comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this?
Zhao Lijian: What I can tell you is that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka, the two countries have always understood and supported each other.
China has been helping Sri Lanka's economic and social development to the best of its ability, and we will continue to do so in the future.
Bloomberg: The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said that China's COVID-19 lockdown has caused significant disruption to many companies. Nearly half of the German companies surveyed said their supply chains had been affected. What is the comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this?
Zhao Lijian: China's "dynamic clearing" policy and epidemic prevention regulations are based on science and expert opinions, in line with China's actual situation and the guiding principles of the World Health Organization, and have effectively guaranteed the safety and health of Chinese and foreign citizens living in China and made a contribution to the global fight against the epidemic. It is an important contribution, and the international community, including WHO, generally speaks highly of it.
Since last year, the epidemic in mainland China has spread to many places, and some cities have adopted a series of prevention and control measures.
Although these measures have some impacts on production and life, these impacts are short-term and limited in scope. They can ensure the normal production and life of the vast majority of the country and the vast majority of people.
Of course, any containment measures come with some cost.
Compared with the protection of people's lives and health, these costs are worth it.
Facts have proved that the general policy of "dynamic clearing" is in line with China's actual situation, the way is right, and the effect is good.
China is one of the countries with the most successful epidemic prevention work in the world, whether in terms of the number of confirmed cases and deaths, or in terms of economic development.
It is precisely by insisting on strong and effective prevention and control measures that while maintaining its own economic and social development, China has made important contributions to maintaining the stability and smoothness of the global industrial chain and supply chain and the growth of the world economy.
I would like to reiterate that the fundamentals of China's long-term economic growth have not changed, China's status as an important engine of global economic growth has not changed, and the confidence of the international community in China's economy has not changed.
We are willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with all parties to inject impetus into the sustained recovery of the global economy.