China News Service, Beijing, March 10th (Reporter Guo Chaokai) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning presided over a regular press conference on March 10th.
A reporter asked: Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently visited a US military base in northeastern Syria, saying that withdrawing troops from Syria would threaten the security of the US and its allies.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement strongly condemning the visit, calling it a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and demanding that the United States stop its continuous and systematic violations of international law.
And just this week, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.
What is China's comment?
Mao Ning: The United States has illegally intervened in the Syrian crisis. The relevant military operations have resulted in the loss of a large number of innocent civilians and caused a serious humanitarian disaster.
The United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria has repeatedly criticized the US military for launching "indiscriminate attacks", which are suspected of constituting war crimes.
The Syrian crisis is about to enter its 13th year. At least 350,000 people have lost their lives, and 14 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
The United States still believes that the withdrawal of troops is "premature" and has no intention of ending its illegal military presence in Syria.
We call on the United States to earnestly respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of other countries, immediately end its illegal presence of troops and looting in Syria, lift illegal unilateral sanctions, and stop man-made and exacerbated humanitarian disasters.
(over)