SCMP: At a hearing on October 20 local time, US ambassador to China nominee Nicholas Burns called on the government to remain committed to the "one-China" policy while increasing security assistance to Taiwan. He also criticized China over its policies on Xinjiang and Tibet and the origins study of the coronavirus. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The remarks of Mr. Burns smack of Cold War zero-sum mentality and run counter to facts. China firmly rejects them.

China is committed to the path of peaceful development. We will always be the advocate of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of international order and a provider of public good. We oppose defining China-US ties as competitive. Even when there is competition between the two sides in such pragmatic areas as economy and trade, it is healthy competition with each other for excellence. Issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong are purely China's internal affairs that brook no foreign interference. The accusation of the so-called "genocide" in Xinjiang is an outrageous lie fabricated by a few anti-China scholars in Western countries and US politicians, with the true intention of oppressing and containing China's development. The one-China principle is a political foundation of China-US relations and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The US made the pledge of stopping arms sale to Taiwan in explicit terms in the August 17 Communique. It should honor its commitment. Since the start of COVID-19, China has acted in an open, transparent and responsible manner in providing timely updates to the WHO and the international community. Origins-tracing is a scientific issue, but a handful of US politicians are obsessed with politically-motivated studies. Their malicious intention of denigrating and stigmatizing China is evident to all.

We advise Mr. Burns to be keenly aware of the overall trend of world development and people's aspiration, learn the real situations of China objectively, view China and China-US ties in an rational manner and avoid underestimating the strong resolve, determination and capability of the Chinese people to defend their rights. We hope he will speak and act in a more constructive manner, and play a constructive part in promoting China-US relations and the friendship between the two peoples.

(Source: Chinese Foreign Ministry Regular Press Conference on Oct. 21, 2021)