Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian hosted a regular press conference on June 7, 2022
CCTV reporter: It is understood that a series of senior officials' meetings on East Asia cooperation will be held soon. What is China's expectation for this series of meetings?
Zhao Lijian: From June 8th to 9th, senior officials of ASEAN, China, Japan and the ROK, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum will be held via video. They will discuss the implementation of the results of last year's series of leaders' meetings and the future development of various mechanisms, and discuss international issues of common concern. Exchange of views on regional issues.
Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao will attend the above-mentioned meeting.
Since the end of last year, China and ASEAN countries have actively promoted the implementation of the outcomes of the summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations, and the friendly and cooperative relations have continued to deepen.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has been successfully implemented, the trade among the member states has grown rapidly, and regional economic integration has continued to advance.
At the same time, in the context of the world still not out of the shadow of the new crown epidemic and the profound evolution of the international and regional situation, regional cooperation in East Asia is also facing complex and severe challenges.
China looks forward to this series of meetings to further consolidate the consensus of regional countries to unite and cooperate to meet challenges, grasp the correct direction of East Asia cooperation, focus on post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development, and continuously deepen practical cooperation in various fields. It will accumulate results and make greater contributions to regional peace, development and prosperity.
The Paper: According to reports, on June 6, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held its board of directors and decided for the third time to discuss issues related to nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia in the form of a formal agenda. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: At the suggestion of China, the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency decided by consensus for the third time to set up a separate formal topic to discuss "the transfer of nuclear materials involved in the US-UK-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation and its safeguards and other impacts on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons." various issues.”
This fully reflects the high concern and serious concern of the international community over the transfer of weapons-grade nuclear materials involved in the cooperation of the three countries on nuclear submarines.
The Chinese side has repeatedly stressed that the US-UK-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation poses a serious risk of nuclear proliferation, impacts the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, intensifies the arms race, and undermines regional peace and stability.
The safeguards issues involved in nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have an important impact on the international nuclear non-proliferation system. They are related to the interests of all member states of the agency and should be discussed and decided by all members of the agency.
The United States, Britain and Australia should earnestly fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations, support rather than obstruct the above-mentioned intergovernmental discussion process, and should not carry out nuclear submarine cooperation until all parties reach a consensus.
China calls on all IAEA member states to support and actively participate in the agency's discussions on nuclear submarine cooperation among the three countries, jointly defend the international nuclear non-proliferation regime based on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and maintain international peace and security.
Bloomberg: The Washington Post reported that China is secretly building a dedicated naval facility at the Cambodian Ream Naval Base near the Gulf of Thailand. What is the comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this?
Zhao Lijian: We have noticed that Cambodia has responded to this.
The Cambodian side stated that the Cambodian constitution does not allow foreign countries to build military bases in Cambodia.
The reconstruction of the Yunyang base is aimed at strengthening the Cambodian Navy's ability to maintain maritime territorial integrity and combat maritime crime.
The U.S. turned a deaf ear to Cambodia's position, made repeated malicious speculations, attacked and smeared, and even threatened and put pressure on Cambodia. This is a typical act of bullying.
China and Cambodia are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners, and the cooperation between the two countries in various fields is open, transparent, reasonable and just.
This not only benefits the two countries and the two peoples, but also sets an example for building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.
In contrast, the United States has more than 800 overseas military bases around the world, and the total military expenditure is equivalent to the sum of the military expenditures of the next nine countries.
In the nearly 250 years since the founding of the United States, only 16 years have passed without a war.
The United States often interferes in other countries' internal affairs, and sends military aircraft and ships to show off its might.
Who is spreading false information?
well known by all people.
Phoenix TV: Your first question is that the former U.S. diplomat in China openly and frankly expressed the true intention of the U.S. government to play the "Xinjiang card". You responded yesterday, but the U.S. has not given any official explanation. What is the spokesperson's view on this? On the second question, US State Department spokesperson Price said on the 6th that the US seeks dialogue and contact with North Korea. If the responsibility for non-dialogue and non-contact is passed to the US, then it is not understanding the situation and spreading lies. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Zhao Lijian: Regarding the first question, the US has not given an explanation so far. I think you should ask the US.
I have noticed reports that the guests who attended the cocktail party between the US Consulate General in Guangzhou and the US business community at the time said frankly on social media, "People from the chamber of commerce present privately said that this is crazy, how could it be possible to fabricate stories about Xinjiang? We bring any good! I have been to Xinjiang many times and every time is a good memory. Nothing about genocide, forced labor happened there at all. These people are completely 'full of lies'. Once upon a time, the Chinese people We were friendly and doing business well until Trump started to make things go bad. I thought President Biden would rectify these mistakes quickly, but nothing appreciably changed. Until I heard what the consular official had to say , I finally understand that we are completely paying for their dirty and ugly decisions. My anger makes me have to make this public."
There is a Chinese saying that there is no wall that is impermeable to the wind.
The guest's remarks I read to you just now express the aspirations of the business people who are caught up in the political conspiracy of the US.
It's an international joke.
We used to tell you that "genocide" was a century-old lie fabricated by the United States, but you may not believe it.
Now you should know that this century's lies have been fabricated like this.
We once again ask the United States to explain this, and the United States should stop its despicable actions of smearing and slandering Xinjiang through political manipulation.
On your second question, we all know that the relevant US officials are well-known for taking the blame.
The crux of the current impasse on the peninsula lies in the fact that the US failed to respond to the denuclearization measures taken by the DPRK in 2018 in accordance with the principle of "action for action", and failed to accommodate the legitimate and legitimate concerns of the DPRK.
The U.S. side should show sincerity and take concrete actions instead of chanting empty dialogue slogans.
Yonhap News Agency: Yesterday, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency said that there are signs that the DPRK is preparing for a nuclear test. Does China have a specific plan to prevent the DPRK from conducting nuclear tests?
Zhao Lijian: Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula serve the common interests of relevant parties and the international community.
China hopes that relevant parties will meet each other halfway and work together to promote the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.
Australia-Asia TV: Regarding the statement of the Australian Ministry of Defense that an Australian military plane was intercepted by a Chinese military plane in the airspace over the South China Sea on May 26, would you like to ask if the spokesperson has any further comments?
Zhao Lijian: You may have noticed that the Ministry of National Defense has already responded to this.
On May 26, an Australian P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft entered the airspace near Xisha, China for reconnaissance.
The Australian military aircraft continued to approach China's Xisha airspace despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side.
The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army organized naval and air forces to identify and verify the Australian military aircraft, and warned them to leave.
The Australian military plane is a serious threat to China's sovereignty and security, and the response measures taken by the Chinese military are professional, safe, reasonable and legal.
The Australian side has turned black and white, repeatedly spread false information, and advocated confrontation. China firmly opposes this.
We urge the Australian side to immediately stop such dangerous and provocative actions and strictly restrict the actions of naval and air forces, otherwise it will bear all the serious consequences arising therefrom.
I would also like to stress that a healthy and stable China-Australia relationship conforms to the fundamental interests and common aspirations of the two peoples.
China's position on the development of China-Australia relations is consistent and clear.
The Australian side should uphold the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win in handling bilateral relations and push China-Australia relations back to the right track of soundness and stability.
Global Times: According to reports, Australian Prime Minister Albanese said recently that he will negotiate with the US government and ask the US to drop the charges against Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks website. what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Zhao Lijian: I have also noticed relevant reports.
From "Prism Gate", "Angel of Wrath", "Starwind", to "Operation Telescreen", "Hive" platform and quantum attack system, the United States has abused its leading edge in Internet and communication technology, and violated its own country through digital surveillance. Citizens' freedom of communication and speech, as well as cyberattacks, eavesdropping and eavesdropping on a global scale.
In the past year, the FBI conducted as many as 3.4 million searches of the electronic data of Americans without warrants, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's annual report.
Last year, the Danish media exposed that the US National Security Agency had intercepted the text messages and calls of politicians in Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and other European countries.
The U.S. "Prime Class" project exposed by Snowden shows that the U.S. has secretly installed monitoring equipment in its nearly 100 embassies and consulates abroad to steal secrets from the host country.
The United States is a veritable Matrix Empire, an empire of eavesdropping, and an empire of secret stealing.
On the one hand, the United States relies on technological hegemony to eavesdrop on secrets, and unscrupulously spy on citizens' privacy; on the other hand, it has recklessly generalized the concept of national security and unreasonably suppressed high-tech enterprises in other countries. This "double standard" is a typical manifestation of "American hegemony".
If the U.S. government has no ghosts in its heart, it should consciously accept supervision from home and abroad.
AFP: First question, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned China's recent irresponsible and provocative actions against Canadian military aircraft in international airspace. How does China respond to this? Second, the U.S. recently announced a moratorium on import tariffs on solar panels from certain Asian countries, but these measures do not include solar products exported from China. How does China respond to this?
Zhao Lijian: On your first question, I fully expounded on China's relevant position yesterday.
UN Security Council resolutions have never authorized any country to deploy military forces and conduct surveillance activities in the sea and airspace under the jurisdiction of other countries on the grounds of monitoring violations of the resolutions.
The approaching reconnaissance of the Chinese side by Canadian military planes is nothing short of irresponsible and provocative.
China firmly opposes any actions that endanger China's national sovereignty and security under any pretext.
The Canadian side should respect the objective facts, stop spreading false information, and take concrete actions to restore the normal development of China-Canada relations.
Regarding your second question, I have also noticed relevant reports, please ask the competent authorities for details.
What I want to stress here is that China urges the US to stop unreasonably suppressing Chinese companies, stop the wrong practice of artificially disrupting supply chains and industrial chains, and create favorable conditions for China-US cooperation on clean energy and climate change.
"Beijing Youth Daily" reporter: June 3 is the "National Day of Concern about Gun Violence" in the United States. People all over the United States held activities to mourn the victims of gun violence and called on the US government to take action to reform and prevent gun violence from happening. What is China's comment?
Zhao Lijian: According to statistics from the US "Gun Violence Archives" website, there will be 246 mass shootings in the US in 2022, resulting in more than 4 deaths and injuries.
What is this concept?
I calculated it, and it was an average of 1.5 every day.
This is the latest number, which we just checked this morning.
That figure doesn't include those shootings that killed or wounded four or fewer.
The number is staggering because it is not just a number, it represents the countless lives lost and broken families.
Over the past five months, more than 18,000 people have been killed by guns.
In the 72 hours from May 28 to 30 alone, more than 300 gun-related incidents occurred in the United States, resulting in more than 130 deaths.
Most Americans called on the government to take measures to prevent the tragedy from happening again.
Several new polls show that the majority of Americans view gun violence as one of the serious social problems.
In April, a Pew Research Center survey showed that 76 percent of Americans believed that gun violence had become a "very serious or relatively serious problem" facing the United States.
According to research data from the University of Michigan, gun-related injuries have become the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States, and 75% of American teenagers believe that shooting incidents have become their main source of stress.
The Hill reported that two-thirds of American parents expressed concern about mass shootings at schools.
The U.S. government should face up to its own poor human rights situation and governance deficit, take concrete actions to control gun violence, and protect the American people's right to life, instead of pointing fingers at other countries and interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.
Bloomberg: At yesterday's press conference, a reporter asked about the official media's social media post saying that the remarks of two US officials downplayed US allegations of China's human rights violations in Xinjiang. You also mentioned these two people today. They were officials of the US Consulate General in Guangzhou at that time. You said yesterday that this is not the first time that US officials have "bared their voices". Today, a spokesman for the U.S. embassy in China said China should stop linking false statements to U.S. officials or take other actions that could lead to harassment of U.S. diplomats. I think one of their particular complaints is that the two U.S. officials were named in the relevant social media posts. Did China fabricate the remarks of the two US officials? What is the comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this?
Zhao Lijian: Thank you for the explanation given by the US.
Sure enough, they denied it.
The content I just read to you is not propaganda by the Chinese government, nor is it fabricated by the Chinese government, but the remarks made by relevant personnel through social media.
You can tell the difference, which one is real and which one is fake, and who is the "Empire of Lies"?
Bloomberg reporter: Sri Lanka is currently facing difficulties in repaying its foreign debt, saying it needs billions of dollars to ensure that it can meet daily needs and to ensure that the Sri Lankan rupee will not be too weak. Given Sri Lanka's insolvency, is China willing to be treated the same as other creditors?
Zhao Lijian: We have answered questions on Sri Lanka many times.
We sympathize with the difficulties and challenges Sri Lanka is currently facing and are willing to play a constructive role in the steady economic and social development of Sri Lanka.
Regarding Sri Lanka's debts related to China, China supports relevant financial institutions to negotiate with Sri Lanka and properly resolve them.
We are also willing to work with relevant countries and financial institutions to continue to play a constructive role in easing the debt burden and achieving sustainable development in Sri Lanka.
At the same time, we hope and believe that Sri Lanka will meet each other halfway, work independently, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investment and financing partners, and maintain the stability and credibility of the domestic investment and financing environment.