Chen Wenqing, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, will attend the 12th International Conference of High Representatives for Security Affairs in Russia from April 20 to 28.
CRI: Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Indonesia on April 18 and 19. Can you tell us more about your visit?
Lin Jian: On April 18-19, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of the CPC Central Committee, visited Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo and President-elect Prabowo met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi respectively. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesia's Head of Cooperation with China Luhut co-chaired the fourth meeting of the China-Indonesia High-level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism, held talks with Foreign Minister Retno and held joint press conferences.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Joko Widodo, the two countries have opened a new chapter in jointly building a community with a shared future. The key to the remarkable achievements of China-Indonesia relations lies in upholding strategic autonomy, mutual trust and mutual assistance, win-win cooperation, and fairness and justice. The two sides should continue to deepen strategic mutual trust, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, lead the quality and upgrading of practical cooperation with high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence.
The Indonesian side said that the Indonesian government attaches great importance to developing relations with China and stressed that it will continue to firmly pursue the one-China policy. In recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has maintained a good momentum of development, and Indonesia looks forward to continuing and continuously promoting higher-level strategic cooperation with China, adhering to mutual respect, expanding mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly contributing more stability and positive energy to regional and global development and prosperity.
The two sides agreed that the two countries should continue to carry forward the fine tradition of cooperation and help each other to embark on the path of modernization with their own characteristics. We should give priority to development, advocate economic globalization that is inclusive and inclusive, and oppose unilateralism and protectionism. It is necessary to strengthen multilateral cooperation, promote the process of an equal and orderly multipolar world, oppose bloc confrontation and bloc confrontation in the region, and safeguard the common interests of the vast number of developing countries.
The two sides also had in-depth communication on the situation in the Middle East and other international and regional issues of common concern, and stressed their willingness to continue to work together with the international community to play a constructive role in easing regional tensions.
AFP: Iranian state media reported that an explosion occurred in Iran's central province of Isfahan today. U.S. officials later told the media that Israel had carried out the attack. What is China's reaction to these reports?
Lin Jian: China has noted relevant reports and opposes any actions that lead to further escalation of tensions.
Anadolu News Agency: The US vetoed the draft resolution on Palestine's candidacy for full membership of the UN. Twelve members of the Security Council, including China, voted in favor. Due to the US veto, the draft was not adopted. Do you have any comment on the U.S. exclusive veto and the outcome of the vote?
Lin Jian: The Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations has fully elaborated China's position in his explanatory remarks after the vote. Independent statehood has been the long-cherished aspiration of the Palestinian people for generations, and formal membership in the United Nations is a crucial step in this historic process. Back in 2011, the Palestinians filed an application, when the Security Council's action was shelved due to the opposition of the United States. Today, 13 years later, Palestine's application for full membership in the United Nations has been rejected due to the US veto, and the Palestinian people's decades-old dream has been ruthlessly shattered. History and the people of the world will remember this perverse act of the United States.
The current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is still dragging on, causing a serious humanitarian crisis. Although the United States has vetoed the application of Palestine for full membership in the United Nations, the urgent demands of the people of the region for an immediate ceasefire, the basic needs of the civilian population in Gaza for humanitarian assistance, and the universal desire of the international community for a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine cannot be denied. The international community should fully implement the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, fully respect the wishes of the Palestinian people, return to the right track of the two-state solution, and establish an independent Palestinian State as soon as possible. Only in this way can the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, the harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish peoples and the lasting peace in the Middle East be achieved.
China has always stood on the side of peace, justice and conscience on the Palestinian issue. We firmly support Palestine's membership in the United Nations and will continue to work with all parties concerned to make unremitting efforts and play a constructive role in quelling the fighting in Gaza at an early date, alleviating the humanitarian situation and promoting the implementation of the two-State solution.
China Daily: We have seen that the US has been hyping up China's "overcapacity" recently. Do you have any further comment on the issue of "overcapacity"?
Lin Jian: The so-called "theory of China's overcapacity" is not a "new concept". In the past, the United States called China's export of a large number of high-quality and low-cost products to the world "overcapacity", and now it has labeled China's exports of new energy products to the world as "overcapacity". According to this logic, 80 percent of American chips, especially high-end chips, are exported, and pork and agricultural products are also exported in large quantities. The so-called "theory of China's overcapacity" thrown out by the US seems to be an economic concept, but behind it is the evil intention of containing and suppressing China's industrial development, aiming to seek a more favorable competitive position and market advantage for the country, and it is naked economic coercion and bullying.
In today's era, supply and demand are global, and the production capacity of different countries is determined by their comparative advantages. The advantages of China's new energy industry are obtained by real skills, and are shaped through continuous scientific and technological innovation and full market competition. Prescribing medicine to others will not cure one's own disease, and taking trade protection measures under the pretext of "overcapacity" will not solve one's own problems, but will harm the stability of the global production and supply chain, the growth and development of emerging industries, and the joint efforts of the international community to address climate change and green transformation and development. We urge the US to abandon the hegemonic mentality, uphold an open mind, adhere to fair competition, earnestly abide by the principles of market economy and international economic and trade rules, create a truly international, market-oriented and law-based economic and trade cooperation environment, and work with the international community to promote economic globalization in a more inclusive direction.
Xinhua News Agency: At present, the international situation remains tense, with frequent local conflicts and turmoil, and traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Over the past two years, China has made contributions to solving global security challenges and promoting common security for mankind. Can you tell us more about that?
Lin Jian: In April 2022, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative (GSI). Over the past two years, China has adhered to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, worked hand in hand with the international community, fully implemented the Global Security Initiative, and achieved a series of positive and important progress.
The Initiative has built an international consensus on solidarity and cooperation to seek common security. So far, the Initiative has been supported and appreciated by more than 100 countries and international and regional organizations, and has been included in a number of bilateral and multilateral documents on exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries and international organizations.
The initiative provides a feasible way to resolve conflicts and differences and manage risks and crises. In response to the Ukraine crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Afghanistan issue, China has issued a position paper to persistently promote peace talks and play a constructive role in the political settlement of regional hotspot issues. China has successfully brokered reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, spurred a "wave of reconciliation" in the Middle East, and set an example for countries in the region to resolve conflicts and differences and achieve good-neighborliness and friendship.
The initiative has injected strong impetus into the maintenance of world peace and tranquility. China has released the Concept Paper on the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and deepened international cooperation in the fields of international peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, climate change, disaster prevention and mitigation, and combating transnational crime. In the face of emerging security challenges such as cybersecurity and AI governance, China has launched the Global Initiative on Data Security and the Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative to lead the process of international security governance in emerging areas.
The initiative promotes the improvement of the platform mechanism for international security dialogue and leads regional security cooperation to move forward. China actively promotes exchanges and cooperation in the field of security under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, and the East Asia Cooperation Mechanism, and continues to build a series of international security exchange and dialogue platforms, such as the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang), the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, and the China-LAC High-Level Defense Forum, so as to bring together the consensus and synergy of the international community in addressing security challenges.
As an important public good provided by China to address international security challenges, the relevance and value of the Global Security Initiative (GSI) continue to emerge. China welcomes all peace-loving and development-oriented members of the international community to actively participate in the initiative and cooperation to jointly build a better world of lasting peace and universal security.
Reuters: My question is related to the Israeli attack on the Iranian city of Isfahan. Iran told Foreign Minister Wang Yi after the attack over the weekend that it had no intention of further escalating the situation in the Middle East. In light of Israel's latest attacks, will China engage in further discussions with all parties in the Middle East, especially Israel?
Lin Jian: China opposes any act that leads to further escalation of tensions and will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation.
CCTV: US President Joe Biden made a public speech in Pittsburgh a few days ago, claiming that the Chinese government has been heavily subsidizing Chinese steel companies to expand their production capacity and dumping them on the global market at unfairly low prices, causing damage to the US. He said that the U.S. Trade Representative is investigating China's steel and aluminum industry, threatening to adjust the tariff rate of steel and aluminum imported from China to three times the current level. The U.S. government is taking a hard look at the Chinese government's industrial policy practices toward the shipbuilding industry and will take action if it is proven that the Chinese government has engaged in unfair practices that undermine free and fair trade. Do you have any comment?
Lin Jian: The relevant remarks made by the US side are completely inconsistent with the facts, undermine China-US economic and trade relations, and run counter to the consensus reached at the San Francisco summit between the two heads of state. China is gravely concerned and strongly deplores this.
First, China's steel industry is mainly based on meeting the domestic market demand, without any subsidy policies to stimulate exports, and the proportion of exports has remained at about 5% for a long time, far lower than Japan, South Korea and other steel producing countries, and the impact on the international market is very limited. On the contrary, the United States has provided hundreds of billions of dollars in discriminatory subsidies to its own industries, and has also abused export control measures under the pretext of "national security" to hinder the normal international trade of chips and other products. The US side accused China of adopting so-called "non-market behavior", which is a typical example of "thieves shouting to catch thieves".
Second, a number of US research reports show that the US shipbuilding industry has lost its competitive advantage many years ago due to overprotection. The development of China's related industries is the result of technological innovation and active participation in market competition, thanks to its complete industrial manufacturing system and huge domestic market. The US blames China for its own problems, which lacks factual basis and goes against economic common sense.
Third, the previous US administration selectively imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum products of some WTO members on the grounds of "national security," and conducted Section 301 investigations and imposed tariffs on China. The US side not only failed to correct its wrong practices, but also threatened to raise tariffs and announced the launch of a new Section 301 investigation.
China will closely monitor the progress of the investigation, and demand that the US side be cautious in its words and deeds, stop manipulating China issues in the election year, stop "pan-securitization" of economic and trade issues, and cancel the additional tariffs on China and stop imposing new tariffs. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its rights and interests.
Global Times: According to reports, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement yesterday in response to China's position on the US-Japan-Philippines summit, saying that the US-Japan-Philippines are a partnership and cooperation framework for promoting peace, stability and economic stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and that no peace-loving country should regard it as a threat. China should reflect on its actions in the South China Sea, abide by international law, and maintain regional peace and stability. Do you have any comment?
Lin Jian: Regarding the trilateral summit between the US, Japan and the Philippines, China has made clear its solemn position. Anyone with a discerning eye can clearly see what the real purpose of this summit is, and whether the three parties are seeking regional peace and cooperation, or whether they are manipulating bloc politics and engaging in a closed and exclusive "small circle." The Philippine side's statement reverses right and wrong, not only ignores the fundamental problem, but makes unreasonable accusations against China.
China's position on the South China Sea issue is consistent and clear. For some time now, the maritime disputes between China and the Philippines have continued to heat up, and the root cause is that the Philippines has violated its commitments, frequently provoked trouble at sea, and violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Philippines is also trying to pull external forces to support itself and put pressure on China. No amount of provocation or coercion can stop China's firm determination and will to defend its sovereignty, rights and interests.
We advise the Philippine side that there will be no way out by coercing the United States to respect itself. The only correct choice to maintain national security and development and regional peace and stability is to uphold good-neighborliness and friendship, return to dialogue and consultation, and adhere to strategic autonomy.
China News Service: This morning, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the San Francisco Zoo signed a Letter of Intent for International Cooperation in the International Conservation of Giant Pandas.
Lin Jian: We have noted the announcement from the China Wildlife Conservation Association and are glad to see that the two sides have reached an intention to cooperate in giant panda conservation. It is understood that the cooperation units of the two sides will promote various preparatory work, and strive to settle a pair of giant pandas in the San Francisco Zoo in 2025.
The giant panda is not only China's "national treasure", but also welcomed and loved by people all over the world, and is a messenger and bridge of friendship. Since the 90s of the 20th century, with the joint efforts of researchers from China and the United States, the United States has successfully bred 17 giant panda cubs, making positive contributions to the conservation and breeding of giant pandas. At the same time, the two sides have jointly carried out research on giant panda field protection, breeding and breeding, disease prevention and control, disease treatment, etc., jointly overcome a series of technical problems, promoted scientific and technological exchanges and capacity building in the field of giant panda and other endangered wild animals and plants, and played a positive role in improving the overall level of giant panda conservation, promoting people-to-people ties between the two countries, and enhancing people-to-people friendship.
It is reported that this joint research will continue to give full play to the advantages of collective wisdom, resource stacking and knowledge sharing between the two sides, further improve the ability and level of conservation of endangered species and biodiversity, and make positive contributions to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.
Reuters: The European Union said yesterday that there are signs that China is supplying Russia with parts and components that could be used to make weapons. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt discussed China's support for the Russian military. Do you have any comment on the discussions between Western powers?
Lin Jian: China is not a party or a participant in the Ukraine crisis. We have always adhered to an objective and fair position, actively promoted peace talks, and never added fuel to the fire or seized the opportunity to make profits. China and Russia have the right to carry out normal economic and trade cooperation, and such cooperation should not be interfered with or restricted. As a matter of fact, the United States, Europe, and some other countries are still trading with Russia. Relevant parties should reflect on the root causes of the crisis and do something practical to achieve peace, instead of blaming China.
CRI: Recently, the US State Department released its 2024 Arms Control, Nonproliferation and Disarmament Compliance Report, accusing China of failing to comply with its nuclear test moratorium and carrying out sensitive biological military activities. Do you have any comment?
Lin Jian: The so-called Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Compliance Report released by the US every year has always been in disregard of the facts, presupposing its position, avoiding the US side's misdeeds in arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation on the one hand, and smearing and accusing other countries of their compliance with the Convention on the other. China firmly opposes this.
In the field of international arms control and non-proliferation, China adheres to true multilateralism, firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, earnestly fulfills its international obligations and commitments, and makes China's contribution to the maintenance of the international arms control and non-proliferation system with concrete actions.
On the other hand, the US stubbornly adheres to the Cold War mentality, wantonly instigates confrontation among major powers, unleashes military development, and strives for absolute security superiority, seriously undermining global and regional strategic stability. Throwing dirty water on other countries in order to divert focus and evade responsibility is a consistent trick of the US side, which is obvious to the international community. We urge the US to stop pointing fingers at other countries, seriously examine its own actions in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, and respond positively to the international community's legitimate concerns about US compliance.
Dragon TV: According to reports, on April 19, Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) launched the fifth batch of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water discharge, which is expected to last until May 7, with a plan to discharge about 7,800 tonnes of nuclear contaminated water. Do you have any comment?
Lin Jian: Since Japan unilaterally launched the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in defiance of domestic and international opposition, it has not addressed the concerns of stakeholders about the safety of the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, the long-term reliability of the purification plant, and the effectiveness of monitoring arrangements. Under these circumstances, Japan's insistence on initiating the discharge of the fifth batch of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is extremely irresponsible and irresponsib, and China firmly opposes it.
The discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima concerns human health, the global marine environment, and the international public interest, and the Japanese side should take seriously legitimate and reasonable concerns at home and abroad, and properly handle them in a responsible and constructive manner. China urges Japan to fully cooperate with the establishment of an independent and effective long-term international monitoring arrangement with the substantive participation of its neighbors and other stakeholders, so as to prevent irreversible consequences caused by the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea.
(The content is synthesized from: the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)