This week, the once-postponed U.S.-ASEAN summit was held in Washington, where U.S. President Joe Biden announced a series of initiatives totaling more than $150 million. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in response to a reporter's question that China and the United States are both Asia-Pacific countries and can fully share a common "circle of friends."
Recently, the United States has been constantly making small moves on the "one-China" principle, and the US military has also provoked from time to time. The Foreign Ministry once again warned the US side not to play with fire on issues involving China's core interests.
This week, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawar and also had phone calls with Danish Foreign Minister Koferd and Greek Foreign Minister Dendías. In a phone call with Dendias, Wang Yi said: "China opposes some forces using the Ukrainian crisis as a pretext to advocate nato's further expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. ”
Be vigilant against the Cold War mentality and hegemonic behavior of the United States
The postponed U.S.-ASEAN summit meeting was held in Washington, D.C., from May 12 to 13. Xinhua International Times pointed out that the United States took the opportunity to promote its so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy" to encircle China, and at the same time put pressure on ASEAN countries on issues such as the situation between Russia and Ukraine. The United States' anti-Russian plot and hegemonic behavior to curb China have aroused the vigilance and resistance of many countries in Southeast Asia.
At the foreign ministry's regular press conference held on the 13th, a reporter asked: US President Biden announced a series of initiatives totaling more than 150 million US dollars at the summit, covering infrastructure, security, anti-epidemic and other fields to deepen US-ASEAN relations. Does China believe that the US proposal on relevant cooperation with ASEAN is to hedge China-ASEAN cooperation?
On the 13th, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian presided over a regular press conference. Source: Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"We do not engage in zero-sum games and do not promote group confrontation. As long as it is a cooperation initiative to promote long-term sustainable development and common prosperity in the region, China welcomes it. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded that as to whether the relevant US initiatives are aimed at China, this should be asked to the US side." China and the United States are both Asia-Pacific countries and can have a common 'circle of friends'. The key is to listen to the voices of Asia-Pacific countries in safeguarding peace, deepening cooperation and seeking common development, and adhere to the principle of mutual respect and win-win cooperation. Zhao Lijian said.
In fact, the Cold War mentality and various hegemonic acts displayed by the United States for some time have long aroused the vigilance of ASEAN countries, and its style of solipsism is unpopular and will only accelerate the decline of the hegemony that the United States is trying to maintain. The so-called American version of global peace and democracy, based on hypocrisy, deception and incitement to violence around the world, brings only chaos, instability and threats to the peace and security of small and weak states.
According to Cambodian media reports, Cambodia recently found a heavy American bomb weighing about 1 ton and filling about 500 kilograms of explosives opposite the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. According to data released by Cambodia, from 1979 to 2021, the unexploded ordnance left by the US military in Cambodia killed 20,000 people and disabled 45,000 people.
"The United States is often lip service to safeguarding democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia, so please remove these bombs and mines first!" Zhao Lijian introduced at a regular press conference on the 11th that during the Vietnam War, the United States used biological and chemical weapons in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, and the crimes committed were numerous and heinous. After the end of the Vietnam War, unexploded bombs killed more than 40,000 vietnamese and injured more than 60,000, and in Laos, the U.S. military dropped 270 million bombs. More than 100 mistacts occurred every year after the war, resulting in more than 20,000 deaths.
"What is even more sad is that the tragedy of the last century is still playing out in the new century." Zhao Lijian said that in the past 20 years, the US military has launched more than 90,000 air strikes in Syria, Iraq and other countries, resulting in the death of about 48,000 civilians.
"Wanting peace rather than turmoil, unity rather than division, and cooperation rather than confrontation are the common aspirations of countries in the region and the universal aspiration of the international community." Zhao Lijian pointed out that no matter how the United States disguises itself, lies will eventually be exposed, and the acts of inciting camp antagonism and creating turmoil and tension are doomed to be unpopular. Asian countries have profound historical memories and discerning right from wrong, and they will never let the region become a chessboard for the great power game, nor will it become a pawn in the confrontation between the big powers.
Ironically, the United States has spent a lot of money to wage wars around the world, send weapons, and add fuel to the fire, but it has dragged its feet on the issue of UN contributions. The latest data released by the United Nations in May showed that the United States owed the United Nations a significant amount of contributions and peacekeeping assessments. Of these, contributions exceeded $1 billion and peacekeeping assessments exceeded $1.4 billion.
"I have noticed that some media refer to the United States as the 'old lai' of the United Nations." Zhao Lijian asked four questions in a row on the 13th: The Biden administration claims to be "returning to multilateralism", claiming to maintain a "rules-based international order", but it owes the United Nations huge membership fees. Instead of paying its assessed contributions to the United Nations in a timely manner, the United States had used financial means to pursue political ends, to pressure the United Nations and to transfer responsibility to other Member States. Is this what the United States calls "upholding multilateralism"? Is this what the United States calls the maintenance of a "rules-based international order"?
We cannot play with fire on China's core interests
According to reports, on the eve of the US-ASEAN summit, Campbell, coordinator of indo-Pacific affairs of the US National Security Council, said at the US Institute of Peace Activities on the 11th that the US-ASEAN summit will talk about China and other issues. The United States continues to pursue a one-China policy, does not support "Taiwan independence," and has no intention of taking provocative actions, but hopes to demonstrate "the willingness to curb provocative measures."
In this regard, Zhao Lijian said on the 12th that the United States, as an extraterritorial country, should play a positive and constructive role in regional peace and development, rather than undermining peace and stability in the region and undermining regional unity and cooperation. "The United States cannot, under the guise of 'cooperation,' choose sides and take sides and play with fire on issues involving China's core interests."
The United States has also continued to make small moves in writing. On May 5, local time, the WEBSITE OF the US Department of State updated and revised the "List of Facts on U.S.-Taiwan Relations." In the updated content, the US side deleted the expression "The United States does not support Taiwan independence" in the previous version.
On the 10th, Zhao Lijian solemnly refuted this political manipulation by the US side. Zhao Lijian said: History cannot be tampered with, facts cannot be denied, and right and wrong cannot be distorted. The US side's revision of the "List of Facts on US-Taiwan Relations" is a small move to blur and hollow out the one-China principle, and this kind of practice of engaging in political manipulation on the Taiwan issue and attempting to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait will surely set itself on fire. The next day, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, pointed out that some people on the island have hyped up the US State Council website to revise Taiwan-related content in an attempt to "rely on the United States and seek independence," and this cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China.
Source: Official website of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
The U.S. military has also repeatedly launched provocative acts. On May 10, the US guided-missile cruiser "Port Royal" sailed through the Taiwan Strait and publicly hyped it. This is the fifth time this year that a US warship has sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Previously, on April 26, the US guided-missile destroyer "Sampson" sailed through the Taiwan Strait and publicly speculated; on March 17 and February 26, the US guided-missile destroyer "Ralph Johnson" sailed through the Taiwan Strait; on January 22, the US destroyer "Dewey" sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
In view of the US warship's fifth voyage through the Taiwan Strait this year, on the night of 10 May, Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater, said that the Eastern Theater of the Chinese People's Liberation Army organized troops to follow the guards throughout the whole process. Theater troops maintain a high degree of vigilance at all times, resolutely counter all threats and provocations, and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Don't try to build a "Asia-Pacific nato"
On May 11, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawar. This is not only the first meeting between the Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers since the new Pakistani government took office, but also the first formal bilateral activity since Foreign Minister Biraval took office. The foreign ministers of the two countries reached important consensus on deepening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, and exchanged views on further strengthening the security and security of Chinese citizens and institutions in Pakistan.
Wang Yi held a video conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawar. Source: Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Wang Yi said that the all-weather strategic partnership between China and Pakistan is unique. The friendship between the two sides will not be shaken or changed by a momentary event. China will, as always, firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and dignity.
Wang Yi stressed that in the past period of time, there have been successive terrorist attacks against Chinese personnel in Pakistan, causing serious casualties, and the Chinese government and Chinese leaders attach great importance to this. China and Pakistan should take immediate action and take resolute and effective measures to deal with it. The most urgent task at the moment is to speed up the investigation of the case and pursue the perpetrators and severely punish them as soon as possible. The Chinese side is willing to join hands with the Pakistani side and resolutely thwart all attempts to sabotage China-Pakistan relations.
Biraval said he was pleased that his first official bilateral event since taking office was to meet with the Chinese foreign minister. Both the ruling and opposition parties firmly support Pakistan-China friendship. An attack on Chinese brothers and sisters is an attack on the Palestinian people. Peding has found out the "4.26" terrorist attack, will certainly bring all criminals to justice, and will do his best to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future.
This week, Wang Yi also had telephone conversations with Danish Foreign Minister Koferd and Greek Foreign Minister Dendías. According to the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi exchanged views with them on the Ukrainian issue. Among them, in a phone conversation with Dendias, Wang Yi said that the security of Europe should still be in the hands of Europeans themselves. China will continue to encourage peace and promote talks and support all efforts conducive to political settlement.
"China opposes some forces using the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to advocate nato's further expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. Trying to build an 'Asia-Pacific version of NATO' will only cause serious harm to regional security." Wang Yi stressed.
Column Editor-in-Chief: Liu Lu
Source: Author: Cao Fei