According to the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at today's regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, spokesman Zhao Lijian answered reporters' questions on the activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China between China and the United States.
The following is a transcript of the Q&A:
Yesterday, a reporter from Japan's Kyodo News Agency asked whether China will hold commemorative activities for the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China. I went back to find out about the situation and made a supplementary response here. Is this reporter here today? (Reporter raises his hand)
This year marks the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's visit to China and the signing of the Shanghai Communiqué. The Shanghai Communiqué is the first joint communiqué signed by China and the United States, thus establishing the principles to be followed by the two countries in developing mutual relations, especially the one-China principle. This became the political basis for the normalization of Sino-US relations and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. According to what I have learned, China and the United States will carry out a series of commemorative activities in the near future to jointly review history and look forward to the future. The relevant information will be released by the Chinese side in a timely manner.
Russian Satellite News Agency: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the international community at the Munich Security Conference on February 10, 2007, saying that the irresponsible policies of the United States would destabilize and lead to the danger of war, which has now expanded to unprecedented levels. Putin's speech also touched on NATO expansion, conflict resolution, unauthorized use of force, and counter-terrorism. What is China's comment on this? Are Putin's predictions fulfilled today?
Zhao Lijian: China has always adhered to the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, advocated a balanced and fair treatment of the security concerns and security initiatives of relevant countries, resolved differences through dialogue and consultation, and promoted global strategic balance and stability. China opposes the pursuit of unilateral military superiority, undermining the security of other countries, intensifying geopolitical competition, playing up antagonism and confrontation, and undermining the international security order and global strategic stability. There is a Chinese saying that "planting melons to get melons, planting beans to get beans." We hope that the relevant parties will abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudices, do more things conducive to world peace and regional security and stability, and avoid creating troubles and problems for other countries and themselves.
Agence France-Presse (AFP): According to reports, China has not implemented the procurement commitments in the phase one economic and trade agreement between China and the United States, and US officials are seeking specific actions from Beijing. The Biden administration is also considering multiple options, including possible consideration of launching a new round of economic and trade investigations that will lead to new tariffs. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: Regarding the specific issues related to the sino-US economic and trade phase one agreement, please check with the relevant competent authorities. As a matter of principle, I can tell you that China has always maintained that China and the United States should properly resolve issues in the economic and trade relations between the two countries in the spirit of mutual respect and consultation on an equal footing. Proceeding from their own unilateral interests, threats and pressure will not help solve the problem, but will only undermine the atmosphere of mutual trust and dialogue and negotiation between the two sides.
Phoenix TV: According to reports, Lithuania will seek a permanent garrison of the US side. What is China's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: I have seen relevant reports. China has no intention of commenting.
Phoenix SATELLITE TV: According to reports, in a note sent to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs on January 28, the US side denied China's claim that the Starlink satellites have twice endangered the safety of the Chinese space station, saying that the activities of the Starlink satellites have not reached the threshold of the established emergency collision standards, so no emergency notice is required in any case. The US note also said that before sending a note to the United Nations, China did not contact the relevant US departments and express concerns about the danger caused by the Starlink satellites. What is China's response to this?
Zhao Lijian: China's notification to the United Nations of the dangerous approach of the Starlink satellite to the Chinese space station and the threat to the safety of astronauts in orbit is an international obligation under Article 5 of the Outer Space Treaty. In the relevant collision avoidance incident, the US Starlink satellites are in a continuous orbital maneuvering state, and the maneuvering strategy and intention are unknown. Chinese astronauts in orbit face real and urgent security threats. China has had to adopt preventive collision avoidance controls. After the collision avoidance incident, the Chinese authorities repeatedly tried to contact the US side by email, but they did not receive a reply. Today, the US side has shirked its responsibility and diverted its attention with the so-called "lower limit of the emergency collision standard". This is not the responsible attitude that a space power should have. What's more, the US side does not have the right to unilaterally set a "lower limit of emergency collision standards".
Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty stipulates that the exploration and use of outer space by each State Party shall be based on the principle of cooperation and mutual assistance; China has registered the relevant information on the space station with the United Nations and published the number of orbital roots of the Chinese space station on its website. Proceeding from safeguarding the safety of Chinese astronauts and space stations, China is willing to establish a long-term communication mechanism with the United States and hopes that the United States will take practical measures to avoid the recurrence of such incidents. China also hopes that all countries will jointly respect the international system of outer space based on international law and work together to safeguard the life safety of astronauts in orbit and the safe and stable operation of space facilities.
Bloomberg: During his visit to Australia, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister called on the world to resist the "human rights violations" between China and Russia. In addition, we note that yesterday the General Administration of Customs of China announced the suspension of the acceptance of Lithuanian beef import declarations from February 9. Can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide more information?
Zhao Lijian: Regarding the relevant information that the General Administration of Customs of China has already released, please ask the department to know more about it.
On your first question, what Lithuania should do is to face up to the objective facts, correct its own mistakes, and return to the correct track of adhering to one China, rather than confusing right and wrong, maliciously hyping up, and still less co-opting other countries to unite against China. Lithuania should first reflect on its own human rights abuses and redress the wrong practices of discrimination against ethnic minorities, deliberate abuse and abuse of violence, violent torture and ill-treatment of refugees.