Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
(Original title: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on October 9, 2019)
Q: Following the US Department of Commerce's announcement on October 7 to impose export restrictions on 28 Chinese entities on so-called Xinjiang-related issues, the US State Department announced that it would impose visa restrictions on Chinese party and government officials and their families responsible for "detaining" or "abusing" Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. What is China's comment on this?
A: Yesterday, the Chinese side made solemn representations to the US side on the pretext of including 28 Chinese entities in the LIST of US export control entities under the pretext of so-called Xinjiang-related human rights issues, and made clear its solemn position. I would like to stress once again that Xinjiang affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and no country has the right to interfere. There is also no so-called human rights problem in Xinjiang as alleged by the US side. No matter what kind of restrictions the US side imposes on Chinese entities and personnel on Xinjiang-related issues, it will seriously violate the basic norms of international relations and seriously interfere in China's internal affairs, and the Chinese side is firmly opposed.
It must be pointed out that the counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures taken by Xinjiang are aimed at preventing the breeding of extremism and terrorism from the source, which is fully in line with Chinese law and international practice. These measures have been widely supported by 25 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and have also made positive contributions to the international counter-terrorism cause. Ignoring the facts, the US side wantonly slandering and smearing China around Xinjiang-related issues, deliberately creating excuses for interfering in China's internal affairs, interfering with Xinjiang's counter-terrorism efforts, and obstructing China's stable development will only make the Chinese people and the international community more aware of their sinister intentions. These tactics cannot shake the firm will of the Chinese Government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and security and safeguard social development and stability in the slightest, and are completely futile.
We advise the US side to immediately correct its mistakes, revoke the relevant decisions, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. China will continue to take firm and effective measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.
Q: Regarding the US's visa restrictions on Chinese party and government officials involved in Xinjiang, will China take countermeasures? Will this affect the new round of high-level Sino-US economic and trade consultations?
A: As I said just now, the Chinese side advises the US side to immediately correct its mistakes, revoke the relevant decisions, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. China will continue to take firm and effective measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.
As for the high-level Sino-US economic and trade consultations that you are concerned about, Liu He, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, and leader of the Chinese side of the China-US Comprehensive Economic Dialogue, will hold the next round of high-level Sino-US economic and trade consultations with the US side. We hope that the US and China will work together to move in the same direction and promote progress in consultations on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
Q: After 28 Chinese entities were included in the US list of export control entities, it is expected that China will also put US entities on the list to counteract. How is the list progressing so far? When will it be announced?
A: You mean the "unreliable entity list", right? (Reporter nods)
As I said yesterday, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce of China recently introduced that at present, the "Unreliable Entities List" system is carrying out internal procedures and will be released in the near future. For specific circumstances, it is recommended that you ask the Ministry of Commerce.
Q: According to reports, protests broke out in various parts of Ecuador on July 3, and President Moreno immediately declared a national state of emergency. On the 7th, Mo made a televised speech saying that the Eritrean society was seriously impacted by the protests, and the violence of the protests became more and more serious. On the 8th, Eritrean President Moreno decided to temporarily move the central government from the capital Quito to the largest city, Guayaquil. What is China's comment on this?
A: China is highly concerned about the political developments in Ecuador. China opposes all forms of violence and hopes that the relevant parties in Ecuador can peacefully resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of the Constitution and laws and maintain political stability.
Q: Has the US side informed China of the list of Chinese officials who will be sanctioned?
A: As I have just said, the Chinese side firmly opposes this erroneous approach of the US side. We advise the US side to immediately correct its mistakes, revoke the relevant decisions, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. China will continue to take firm and effective measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.
Q: There are reports that China may tighten visas for US people with ties to anti-China groups. What is China's comment on this?
A: I'm not aware of the situation you mentioned. What I can tell you is that China has always taken a positive attitude towards normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. For a long time, we have always welcomed people from all walks of life in the United States to visit China, participate in the conference and exchange, and provided due convenience in terms of visas and other aspects.
On the contrary, for some time now, the US side has taken measures such as refusing visas, delaying visa applications, revoking long-term visas to the United States, and conducting interrogations and harassment against Chinese scholars, students, business people, and scientific and technological personnel to go to the United States, obstructing normal people-to-people exchanges and personnel exchanges between China and the United States, and also harming the personal safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese personnel.
China has expressed its grave concern to the US side. Many universities, think tanks and other people in the United States have also publicly expressed their opposition to this practice. Everyone can clearly see who is facilitating people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States and who is setting up obstacles to the exchange of people between the two countries.
We hope that the US side will abandon the Cold War and zero-sum thinking, face up to the basic facts, build bridges for exchanges between all walks of life of the two countries, rather than building a high wall, and take effective measures to further promote and facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Q: According to reports, yesterday, the European Parliament nominated Tohti as a candidate for the "Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought" Is China worried about this? If Tohti wins the award, is China prepared to take countermeasures?
A: The person you mentioned was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Chinese judicial authorities for the crime of separatism. He used to be a university teacher, but in the classroom he openly referred to the extreme terrorists who created violent terrorist cases as "heroes", and also used his status as a teacher to solicit, tempt, and coerce some people to leave the country to participate in the activities of the "East Turkistan" forces, and was a separatist who supported the extreme violent terrorist activities.
Under the guise of so-called "human rights" and "freedom," the relevant organs "bleach" such a separatist who supports extreme violent terrorist activities is an connivance and encouragement for their criminal activities, as well as a blasphemy and a fool's play on the rule of law and human rights. We call on the relevant bodies to distinguish between right and wrong, withdraw nominations and stop supporting separatist and violent terrorist forces.
Q: Does China know the list of relevant Chinese officials that the US will sanction?
A: We firmly oppose the erroneous approach of the US side.
Q: First question, can you tell me how much the National Day parade and mass parade cost? The second problem is that the NBA preseason game has been suspended in China. So how do Chinese fans watch the game this weekend?
A: Your first question is not a diplomatic one. But I think that as a foreign resident correspondent in Beijing, you should have watched the relevant celebrations and felt the high patriotic enthusiasm of the Chinese people.
On the second question, I have already responded to the relevant questions of the NBA yesterday, and there is nothing to add.
Q: According to reports, NBA President Xiao Hua arrived in China today and will meet with Chinese officials to discuss Hong Kong-related issues in the NBA. Will Chinese officials meet with them?
A: I don't understand what you said.
Q: Will China send representatives to the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito of Japan? Which official will be sent to attend?
A: China has received the invitation, and we will release the attendance in due course.
Q: Chinese state media have accused Apple of supporting the Hong Kong demonstrators, saying that an app from the Apple App Store can help demonstrators identify the whereabouts of Hong Kong police. Has China communicated with Apple in this regard? Has Apple been asked to remove the app?
A: I don't know the specifics you mentioned. What I can tell you is that the recent extremely violent crimes in Hong Kong have challenged the rule of law and social order in Hong Kong, threatened the safety of hong Kong citizens' lives and property, and undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. Anyone with a conscience and a sense of justice should resist and oppose this, not support and condone it.