CCTV: U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo published a statement on monitoring and combating trafficking in persons on the department’s website, criticizing China’s moves related to Xinjiang and religion, including “forced labor”, and saying that the United States will continue to pressure the Chinese government on these issues. Do you have any comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: Pompeo is proud of “lying, cheating and stealing”. He has been the source of various disinformation on China. So-called “forced labor” and other issues are typical cases of fabrication.
Labor workers of Xinjiang’s all ethnic groups, including ethnic minorities, are part of China’s labor force whose rights and interests are protected by law. They have the freedom to choose their professions and locations of work with zero restriction on their personal liberty. Their traditions, customs, religious beliefs and spoken and written languages are lawfully protected. The employers provide good working and living conditions for employees of ethnic minorities and make sure all their needs are attended to. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region government takes proactive measures to safeguard to the maximum the right to work and employment of people from all ethnic groups based on their own will. How can anyone call this “forced labor”? It’s so preposterous.
How are those U.S. politicians in any position to deprive the Chinese people of the right to pursue a better life through work? Some in the US claim they care about ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, but on the other hand, they are taking all sorts of measures to repress Xinjiang enterprises and impose unilateral sanctions and pressure, which fully reveals their malicious intention to undermine Xinjiang’s prosperity and development, sow discord among ethnic groups in China, and contain China’s progress.
I want to stress that, the United States itself has a terrible record on human rights and religious freedom. It has been incompetent in fighting the virus, and there have been numerous scandals of racial discrimination, police brutality and prisoner abuse. Gun violence crime rate in the United States has been the highest in the world for years, causing on average tens of thousands of deaths per year. The religious situation of ethnic minorities in the United States is also worrisome. The U.S. government should focus on handling its domestic problems rather than making lies about others.
Politicians like Pompeo can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but they cannot fool all the people all the time. No matter how they lie and cheat, Xinjiang’s prosperity and stability will not be interrupted, and China’s development and progress will not be stopped. This is the best response to them.
China Daily: President Reed of the U.S. Export-Import Bank published an article on October 17, saying that “for more than a decade, the Chinese Communist Party has relentlessly attacked the American economy with tools ranging from intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer to widespread dumping and currency manipulation.” She also wrote that China is increasingly using “export financing to distort fair and free-market competition”. The U.S. Under Secretary of State Krach retweeted this article with comments that “CCP’s too-good-to-be-true deals are too good to be true”. Could you comment on these remarks?
Zhao Lijian: The US individuals’ comments you cited are baseless and senseless.
Currently, under the pretext of “national security”, the US is wantonly oppressing foreign companies, denying their market access, forcing them to sell shares and technologies to American businesses, coercing third countries to sever their supply of normal technologies and products to foreign companies and detain foreign enterprises’ senior executives. This is precisely arbitrary government intervention that led to the greatest market distortion and severe damage to the WTO rules and the multilateral trading system. Over the past four decades, China’s reform and opening up has been market-oriented, and we have been fulfilling our responsibilities as a major trading nation with well-recognized improvement in our business environment. The claim of “China’s currency manipulation” is even more ridiculous. The IMF and other authoritative international institutions all believe China’s currency exchange rate is in line with our economic fundamentals, and there’s no apparent overvaluation or undervaluation.
Finance is the lifeblood of economy. China has been providing diverse financing support including export credits to countries in need of economic development. During our cooperation with other countries, China follows the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, pursues open, green and clean cooperation and high-standard and sustainable development that benefits the people. The infrastructure projects financed by China attach high importance to meeting international standards, protection of the ecological environment and fulfillment of social responsibilities. We have forged multiple demonstration projects and exemplary projects, which are welcome in host countries and contributing greatly to global economic growth, trade and investment cooperation, and improvement of people’s well-being. The comment of “too good to be true” is just sour grapes.
As to the debt issues of some countries, I’d like to stress that they are partly due to national economic fundamentals and closely related to factors such as the global macroeconomic economic environment. Loans to these countries by commercial creditors of the United States and other developed countries and international financial institutions constitute the bulk of the debt of many countries. China is not responsible for debt problems of certain countries. China never presses countries having difficulties on debt repayment. We maintain communication through bilateral channels and have made some arrangements on debt relief based on relevant countries’ needs. China has been actively participating in the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and working with other parties to mitigate COVID-19’s negative impact on national economies and the world economy.
In a word, the facts speak for themselves when it comes to passing judgment on China’s practical cooperation with relevant countries. Certain individuals in the US who smear and denigrate other countries by distorting facts or even fabricating lies should reflect upon themselves and make some tangible contributions to the shared development of the international community.
Reuters: US Secretary of State Pompeo said that the United States and Brazil should reduce dependence on Chinese imports due to security concerns. What is your comment?
Zhao Lijian: I noted relevant reports. China is firmly opposed to the Cold-War mentality and ideological bias of some US politicians who deliberately smear and denigrate China’s normal economic and trade cooperation with other countries.
China and Brazil are comprehensive strategic partners. Since the beginning of this year, despite the negative impact of the epidemics, China-Brazil practical cooperation has continued to grow. In the first nine months of this year, the trade volume between China and Brazil reached $86.5 billion, up by 4% year-on-year. This fully demonstrates that our practical cooperation has a solid foundation, strong resilience and mutual benefit. It enjoys broad support from all sectors of both countries and will not and should not be disturbed by others.
Global Times: The so-called “Tibetan government-in-exile” issued a statement on October 16 saying that Lobsang Sangay, the “Kalon Tripa”, met with the US “special coordinator for Tibetan issues” and Assistant Secretary Robert Destro at the US Department of State. I wonder if you have any comment on this?Zhao Lijian: Xizang’s affairs are China’s internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. The US appointment of so-called “special coordinator for Tibetan issues” is a political manipulation to interfere in China’s domestic affairs and undermine Xizang’s development and stability. China firmly opposes it and has never recognized it. We have lodged solemn representations with the US side.
The so-called “Tibetan government-in-exile” is a separatist political organization with the agenda of pursuing “Tibetan independence”. It is completely in violation of China’s Constitution and laws, and is not recognized by any country. Lobsang Sangay, as head of the organization, is utterly an anti-China separatist. China firmly opposes Lobsang Sangay conducting anti-China separatist activities in whatever capacity, name or country, and we firmly oppose engagement of whatever form between him and officials of any country. Destro’s meeting with him seriously breached the US commitment and policy stance of not supporting so-called “Tibetan independence” and not recognizing the so-called “Tibetan government-in-exile”, which sent a deeply erroneous signal to the “Tibetan independence” forces.
The US side should stop interfering in China’s internal affairs or undermining Xizang’s development and stability under the pretext of Xizang-related matters. It shall not in any way support anti-China separatist activities by “Tibetan independence” forces. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard our interests
