Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on May 24, 2022
2022/05/24 20:57

From May 26 to June 4, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay official visits to eight countries, namely Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, and a virtual visit to the Federated States of Micronesia upon invitation. He will also hold video conference with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Cook Islands and the Premier and Foreign Minister of Niue, and host the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Fiji. 

Xinhua News Agency: Can you share more information on State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit? What’s China’s expectation of this visit?

Wang Wenbin: China sets great store by its friendly relations with Pacific Island Countries and Timor-Leste. As developing countries in the Asia-Pacific, China and the relevant countries are good friends and good partners pursuing common development on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. The development of friendly and cooperative relations between China and those countries serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two sides, and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. 

At present, China-Pacific Island Countries relations have shown a sound momentum of development, with our comprehensive strategic partnership deepening. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the restoration of independence of Timor-Leste and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Timor-Leste. The relationship between China and Timor-Leste has been presented with an important opportunity of development. During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will have separate talks with foreign ministers of these countries and meet with heads of state and heads of government. This visit by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will further enhance the political mutual trust between China and these countries, elevate our cooperation in various sectors to a new level, bring new vitality to the long-term development of bilateral relations and make positive contribution to the peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific. 

Reuters: When exactly will Wang Yi arrive in the Solomon Islands? And when will he sign the security pact? Will any changes be made to the initial security pact?

Wang Wenbin: I have just released information on State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit. We will release information on the specific schedule in due course. 

As for the framework agreement on security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands, we have shared information on that on multiple occasions. With the approval of the two governments, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Solomon Islands’ Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele officially signed the inter-governmental framework agreement on security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands on behalf of the two governments last month.

CRI: Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei recently reappointed Maria Consuelo Porras Argueta de Porres as the Attorney General. She was designated and included in the “Engel list” by the US government last year for “obstruction of justice”. A statement of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Department’s website reads that the US is designating Attorney General of Guatemala Maria Consuelo Porras Argueta de Porres and her husband due to her involvement in “significant corruption”. Porras and her immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the US. When touching on the decision of reappointing Porras, President Alejandro Giammattei said he will not attend the Summit of the Americas in the US. Some other countries have also said they will not attend the Summit. What is China’s comment?

Wang Wenbin: We have noted relevant reports. The US has been putting together small cliques and suppressing dissenting voices under the cover of democracy, human rights and anti-corruption. It has been willfully abusing unilateral sanctions and trying to interfere in and manipulate domestic affairs of Latin American countries, which constitute grave infringement on the sovereignty and dignity of regional countries. The US move wins no support. It is guided by the Monroe Doctrine in nature, as the US puts itself above other countries and engages in power politics, hegemony and bullying. Latin American countries, including Guatemala, know this well.

I want to stress that Latin America is not a “front court” or a “backyard” of the US. And the Summit of the Americas is not the Summit of the United States of America. It is China’s position that all regional cooperation frameworks should follow the trend of peace and development, boost mutual trust and cooperation between regional countries, and avoid being selective or exclusive. China welcomes the development of relations between countries in the Americas on the basis of mutual respect, equal treatment and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. We hope the summit can truly focus on the shared agenda of the region, step up solidarity and cooperation, and promote people’s wellbeing.

Bloomberg: The BBC has reported about a huge cache of data that they say was hacked from a police computer server in Xinjiang. The hack yielded what the BBC says are photos of inmates in reeducation centers. Is the content that the BBC reported on legitimate content from Chinese police servers? 

Wang Wenbin: What you mentioned is the latest example of the anti-China forces’ smearing of Xinjiang. It is just the same trick they used to play before. The lies and rumors they spread cannot deceive the world, nor can they hide the fact that Xinjiang enjoys peace and stability, its economy is thriving and its people live and work in peace and contentment.

China Daily: During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Can you share more on that?

Wang Wenbin: During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will host the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Fiji. This will be the first time that a meeting under the mechanism will be held in a Pacific Island Country. Parties to the meeting will have in-depth exchange of views on such issues as China-Pacific Island Countries relations, exchanges and cooperation across the board, and international and regional cooperation. It is believed that the meeting will play an important role in promoting the solidarity and cooperation between China and Pacific Island Countries and strengthening China-Pacific Island Countries relations. 

The first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was successfully held in October 2021 via video link. All parties agreed to establish a mechanism of regular meetings between foreign ministers of China and Pacific Island Countries and reached a host of important consensuses and outcomes. China is ready to continue to have close communication with all parties and deliver more benefits to the people in all countries through this mechanism and create new highlights in regional cooperation. 

Reuters: Will the UN Human Rights High Commissioner and her team get to speak to former so-called trainees of the so-called vocational centers in Xinjiang? If so, will she and her team be able to do so unsupervised?

Wang Wenbin: Yesterday, I told you that China welcomes High Commissioner Bachelet’s visit to China and we will facilitate her visit. This visit is a trip to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation, as well as to clarify misinformation. The purpose is to enhance exchanges and cooperation between the two sides and promote the development of international human rights cause. 

Yesterday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, who will later visit Guangdong and Xinjiang and have extensive exchanges with various sectors. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released relevant information. The High Commissioner will brief the media on her visit in an appropriate way. 

China News Service: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 23 that Russia will continue to develop friendly relations with China. “Now that the West is taking the position of a dictator, our economic ties with China will grow even faster,” he said, adding that the two countries jointly advocate more democratic international relations and share broad-based common interests in upholding international fairness and justice and promoting multi-polarity in the world. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: China appreciates the remarks made by Foreign Minister Lavrov. 

China and Russia are each other’s biggest close neighbor of the greatest importance and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination. China-Russia relations have withstood the new test of the changing international landscape and keep moving forward in the right direction. China-Russia cooperation is driven by strong internal dynamics and valued for its independence. It is not targeted at any third party and will not be affected by others.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and important members of multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the G20, China and Russia will remain committed to promoting a multi-polar world and greater democracy in international relations, upholding true multilateralism and opposing hegemonic behaviors and bloc confrontation in international relations. 

NHK: I have two questions. First, it is reported that the Quad Joint Leaders’ Statement said that the US, Japan, India and Australia should champion adherence to international law to respond to China’s intensifying maritime activities and to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order presented by China. Do you have any comment? Second, when taking a question from the press, US President Biden said that US policy on Taiwan has not changed at all. Do you have any response?

Wang Wenbin: As to your first question, China actively upholds the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. As a party to UNCLOS and other important maritime conventions, China actively fulfills its obligations to relevant international law. We hope certain countries would not see China through tinted glasses and make unwarranted accusations. Building small cliques and stoking bloc confrontation is the real threat to a peaceful, stable and cooperative maritime order.

On your second question, the US has been racking its brains to play with words when it comes to the one-China principle. I want to remind the US side that no forces, the US included, can hold back the Chinese people’s endeavor to reunify the nation. Also, no forces, the US included, can change the fate of the “Taiwan independence” forces who are doomed to fail. 

Reneging on its promise on the Taiwan question, the US has obscured and hollowed out the one-China principle, and publicly or stealthily incited and endorsed “Taiwan independence” separatist activities. If the US continues to go down the wrong path, there will be irretrievable consequences for the China-US relations and the US will have to pay an unbearable price.

Our stern message to the US: There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China’s territory and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a consensus of the international community and a commitment made by the US to China. The one-China principle is unshakable, China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be violated and the red line of avoiding creating “two Chinas” and “one China, one Taiwan” must not be crossed. 

China has full confidence and capability and is fully prepared to firmly stem the “Taiwan independence” separatist activities, foil all external interference and resolutely uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity. I’d like to advise the US to listen to a well-known Chinese song with these lyrics: “For our friends, we have fine wine. For jackals or wolves, we welcome with shotguns.”

PTI: The foreign ministry previously announced that it hoped the Indian side can provide a list of Indian students who have the actual need to return to China. Understandably, that list has been submitted to the foreign ministry by the Indian side. Are we looking at any timeline about the entry back here? And also there are several Indian professionals working here who have been making requests both here and of course to the Indian foreign ministry about permitting the return of their stranded families back home, which is already over two years. Any progress can be expected on that?

Wang Wenbin: The Chinese side attaches importance to and understands the urgent desire of Indian students to return to China and resume their classes. We will make proper arrangements for Indian students to resume their studies in China on the premise of ensuring sound epidemic prevention and control. The Chinese side is working with the Indian side to handle specific matters and try to arrange for eligible students to return to China at an early date.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China has provided convenience to foreign nationals with actual needs to return to China. Indian experts working in China can apply to relevant Chinese authorities for family reunions if they have such needs.

Anadolu Agency: Will there be similar arrangements for other countries? 

Wang Wenbin: We take seriously the need of foreign students to return to China and resume their studies. We are in consultations with relevant countries to properly handle this issue in light of the development of the epidemic.

The Paper: We noted that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Grossi visited the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last week, and held talks with Japanese officials on the disposal of the nuclear-contaminated water. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the latest visit of Director General Grossi to Japan. The IAEA has issued relevant press release on its website, noting technical areas where additional discussions and information are warranted, such as the radiological characterization of the treated water. The IAEA is committed to providing a thorough review and strict monitoring before, during and after the release of the treated water. Going forward, the IAEA Task Force will carry out more assessment and monitoring activities, including independent sampling and analysis of the treated water and environmental samples. This shows that the international community’s concerns over the reliability of the data on the nuclear-contaminated water, the efficacy of the treatment system and the uncertainty of environmental impact are completely justified. The Japanese side should fully cooperate with the IAEA to give ample, reliable and convincing explanations. 

It needs to be pointed out that the Task Force did not assess other disposal options except for the ocean discharge plan. As a result, the IAEA was unable to conduct a thorough assessment on what is the best option. Just as the Task Force was conducting its review mission, Japan has been pushing ahead approval procedures regarding the ocean discharge plan and relevant infrastructure construction. Such acts in disregard of various parties’ concerns in an attempt to create a fait accompli is irresponsible. Once again, we urge Japan to take the reasonable and legitimate concerns of the international community and the Japanese public seriously, and look for a proper means of disposal through full consultation with relevant international agencies and all stakeholders including its neighboring countries, and stop pushing forward its ocean discharge plan. 

Reuters: Does the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet have any say in who she wants to meet in Xinjiang?

Wang Wenbin: High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet will have extensive exchanges with people from all walks of life during her visit to China. 

CCTV: On May 23, Japanese and US leaders had a meeting and released a joint statement in which they manipulated China-related issues and criticized China on several issues. They also clamor for advancing a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and extending military deterrence in the region. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: In disregard of the grave concerns of China and other countries in the region, Japan and the US insisted on manipulating China-related issues to attack and smear China and grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs. Such moves violate international law and basic norms governing international relations and undermine China’s sovereignty, security and development interests. China deplores and rejects this and has lodged solemn representations. I wish to emphasize the following points: 

First, China’s resolve and will to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests are as firm as rock. The Taiwan question bears on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and concerns China’s core interests. China will respond firmly and forcefully to any attempt by any country or force to play the Taiwan card and use Taiwan-related issues to contain China. Hong Kong and Xinjiang affairs are China’s internal affairs that allow no interference from any country. China has indisputable sovereignty over Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands. Our activities in relevant waters are completely legitimate and lawful. China is firmly committed to upholding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. In the meantime, China is committed to advancing COC consultations with ASEAN countries and jointly upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea. Japan and the US have misrepresented facts and truth, ignored the history of relevant issues, seriously undermined China’s territorial sovereignty and gravely violated international law and basic norms governing international relations. Such acts are the real threats to regional peace and stability. 

Second, the people of Asia-Pacific countries cherish the hard-won environment for peace and development and will never allow turmoil and war to recur in this region, or confrontation between military blocs and camps to be introduced into the Asia-Pacific region. In the name of freedom and openness, the US concocted the “Indo-Pacific Strategy” and created political and military confrontation by ganging up with some countries. In essence, this is like reversing the course of history. It will only undermine regional peace and stability and is doomed to fail. The international community has its fair judgement on this. To quote some lines of a poem: “In a world that is not so big, / a few flies bumped into the wall, / buzzing and sobbing in misery”. The mainstream appeal for harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation among Asia-Pacific countries will remain unchanged, and the trend of the times for advancing regional integration and the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future will remain unchanged. 

Third, due to the aggression and colonization by Japan’s militarism in modern history, Japan’s moves in the military and security fields have always been followed closely by its Asian neighbors and the international community. Japan has increased its defense budget for a decade in a row and has often made an issue out of its neighbors to justify its military build-up. Japan keeps in long-term storage a large amount of sensitive nuclear materials exceeding its actual needs. To enjoy the benefits of the US’ nuclear umbrella, Japan spares no effort to thwart the adoption of a no-first-use policy by the US. Recently, there have been repeated dangerous calls in Japan that contravene its three non-nuclear principles, which makes its Asian neighbors and the international community seriously question Japan’s security policy. The Japanese side should stick to the path of peaceful development and continue to speak and act with prudence in the military and security field. This is the right path to take and the only way to avoid repeating past mistakes. 

At last, I want to stress that China is always a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a champion of international order. We are ready to work with all peace-loving and development-seeking countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly respond to challenges, promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind. At the same time, China never allows any country to interfere in China’s internal affairs, undermine China’s interests or tarnish China’s image. We will defend our sovereignty, security and development interests, and stay committed to safeguarding peace, stability and lasting prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.

Global Times: US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price noted the other day the continued silence of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the face of human rights violations in Xinjiang and throughout the PRC. He expressed deep concerns over her visit to China. He added, “we have no expectation that the PRC will grant the necessary access required to conduct a complete, unmanipulated assessment of the human rights environment in Xinjiang.” British Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson posted on social media that she “stressed the importance of unfettered access to Xinjiang”. “There is no excuse for preventing UN representatives from completing their investigations,” she noted. What is China’s comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: On the visit by the High Commissioner, the US, UK and other Western countries have put on one political farce after another lately. They have publicly exerted pressure and vehemently demanded a visit to China’s Xinjiang by the High Commissioner for a so-called “investigation” into China under the presumption of guilt. After China and the OHCHR agreed on the arrangement for the High Commissioner’s visit after consultation on an equal footing, the US and the UK again went to great lengths to disrupt and undercut the outcome, criticized the upcoming visit, and set various preconditions for and obstacles to the visit. The flip-flops with self-contradictions only bring humiliation to the countries themselves. Are they interested in human rights, or politicizing, weaponizing and instrumentalizing human rights issues?

It seems that countries like the US and the UK do not care about the truth at all. All they want is to whip up the so-called Xinjiang issue and discredit China with the High Commissioner’s visit. What truly concerns them is that international observers including the High Commissioner can see the real situation in Xinjiang, which will debunk the lies they have made up and bankrupt their plot to contain China with Xinjiang-related issue.

In fact, the “lies of the century” to smear Xinjiang fabricated by forces with ulterior motives exactly mirror the deplorable track record of the US and the UK.

The US committed genocide against Native Americans by massacre, eviction, sterilization and coercive assimilation, reducing the population of Native Americans from five million in 1492 to 250,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.

The US has serious problems of human trafficking and forced labor. It still has not ratified the Forced Labour Convention (1930), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Nearly 100,000 people are smuggled into the US for forced labor every year. And there are at least half a million people enslaved in the US; and roughly 240,000 to 325,000 women and children in the US are victims of sexual slavery.

The US is also an old hand in arbitrary detention and abuse of torture. For years, in the name of its “war on terror”, the CIA has set up black sites in at least 54 countries and regions where as many as 100,000 people are put under detention.

The British special forces brutally killed civilians in the military operations in Afghanistan. Islamophobia is rampant in the UK, with nearly half of the Muslim population believe that they are subject to discriminatory treatment of the government, and 46 percent of the people think that prejudice against Islam makes it hard for them to live in the UK.

The US and the UK should earnestly face up to and address their systemic and persistent human rights problems at home and give a responsible explanation to the world. The UN should make an objective assessment and deliver reports on the human rights issues in the US and the UK.

Bloomberg: The Quad leaders said in a statement today that they are committed to a free Indo-Pacific region and that they will strengthen cooperation with Pacific Island nations. Does the ministry have a comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: We hope that the US, before talking about rules and order, will first pay its overdue $1 billion assessed contributions to the UN and the $1.4 billion peacekeeping assessments, ratify as soon as possible the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and stop standing alone in blocking negotiations for a verification protocol under the Biological Weapons Convention, lift its illegal unilateral sanctions on countries including Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and Afghanistan, and stop meddling in the sovereign decision of South Pacific Island countries to pursue normal cooperation with other countries.

Reuters: Does the foreign ministry have a comment on concern expressed by rights groups and diplomats that China could use the High Commissioner’s visit to turn it into an endorsement of its rights record?

Wang Wenbin: The visit to China by High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet is one to promote exchange and cooperation between the two sides and an opportunity for both sides to better understand each other, strengthen cooperation and promote the development of the international human rights cause. Plots to use human rights issues for political manipulation and tarnish China’s image by fabricating and spreading lies and rumors will not succeed.

Reuters: Will the High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet get to speak to any Uyghurs during her visit in Xinjiang?

Wang Wenbin: I just answered a related question.

Bloomberg: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the US must be strategic when it comes to a decision on whether to remove tariffs on Chinese goods. What is the foreign ministry's response to Katherine Tai’s remarks?

Wang Wenbin: I would like to refer you to competent authorities for the specifics. To give you a principled answer, I would like to reiterate that the China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win in a trade war or a tariff war. Against the backdrop of high inflation, the removal of tariffs on China by the US serves the fundamental interests of American consumers and businesses. It will be good for the US, China and the world at large.

Reuters: The new Australian prime minister said Australia’s goals are aligned with Quad. What’s China’s comment?

Wang Wenbin: Yesterday we offered congratulations to the Labor Party on its victory in Australia’s federal election under the leadership of Mr. Albanese. I also talked about China’s principled position on bilateral relations with Australia. At the moment I don’t have anything else to add.


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