| Foreign Ministry Spokesman's Press Conference on January 31, 2002 |
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| 2004/04/22 |
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Q: Chairman of the American
Institute in Taiwan was reported as saying that U.S. should
continue its arms sales to Taiwan for its self-defence. He
also accused China of setting pre-conditions for the
dialogue across the straits. What’s your comment on
that?
A: His remarks are
erroneous and worthy of no comment. It’s a violation
of the principle of “one China” which is a
commitment made by U.S. Government on various occasions and
the stipulations of the three Joint Communiques. Taiwan
question is China’s internal affairs and no foreigners
are allowed to interfere.
Q:
President Bush accused DPRK, Iran and Iraq as “axis of
the evil” in his State of Union Address, what’s
your comment on that?
A: China
is not for using such terms in international relations. We
have always held that state to state relations should be
handled on the basis of the principles and purposes of UN
Charter, five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the
principle of equality regardless of country’s size.
Otherwise it will only ruin the efforts to solve relevant
questions and will not be conducive to peace and stability
of the region and the world at
large.
Q: China is against any
sort of terrorism. Does China support the anti-terror
campaign of the U.S. and the international community? Will
China stop supporting the U.S. in expanding the scope of
anti-terror campaign following the end of Afghan war? In
what conditions will China endorse the U.S. for such an
expansion?
A: Anti-terrorism
is a common consensus of the international community. China
has a clear attitude towards international terrorism. We
have always supported the strengthening of international
cooperation in anti-terrorism within the framework of
relevant international conventions. At present, conventions
of this kind have numbered 12, 10 of which China is a party.
China has also singed the International Convention on
Prohibition of Financing Terrorism. Your question also
involves next step of the war on terror, on which China
holds a clear-cut stand. China resolutely supports
anti-terrorism campaign but at the same time also holds that
anti-terrorism campaign should not be expanded
willfully.
Q: What do you mean
by willful expansion?
A: China
has reiterated its position on various occasions. We believe
that combat against terrorism should have concrete evidence,
avoid injury to the innocent and the UN should play a larger
role in this regard.
Q: Some
South Asian countries were accused by the U.S. of harbouring
terrorist groups. Terrorist actions did occur there. Now
that the Philippines and some other countries have conducted
military cooperation with the U.S. to wipe out terrorists at
their home. What's China's comment?
A: Chinese Government supports
international cooperation in fighting against terrorism. We
also hope that relevant bilateral arrangements should be
conducive to international combat against
terrorism.
Q: How does Chinese
Government comment on President Bush's State of Union
Address?
A: Yesterday, in his
State of Union Address, President Bush expressed willingness
of the U.S. in strengthening cooperation with China and
other countries in promoting world peace and prosperity. We
maintain that enhancement of exchanges and cooperation
between China and the U.S. is in the fundamental interests
of both peoples and conducive to world peace and
stability.
Q: Can you share
with us the agenda of President Bush's visit to China? Will
China send any message to the U.S. relating to Taiwan
question during this visit?
A:
The programme of President Bush's upcoming working visit to
China is still under consultation. But what I can assure you
is that President Jiang will hold talks with him and host a
welcoming banquet for him. With respect to the topics of
their discussion, they are under consultations. The two
leaders have had frequent exchanges of views on major
international issues since last October's summit. They will
certainly continue to do so in an in-depth manner on
bilateral relations and international and regional issues of
common interest.
Q: The king of
Morocco will visit China next week. Will this visit further
improve China's relations with the Muslim countries?
A: I believe that his visit
will further promote China's relations with relevant
countries and regions.
Q: Will
he discuss the question of Jeruselum with China during his
visit?
A: I am not
aware of the specifics of the visit. I believe that the two
sides will have plenty exchanges of views on bilateral,
regional and international issues of common
interest.
Q: Japanese Foreign
Minister was dismissed yesterday. Considering her father's
special relations with China, what's China's comment?
A: There were some personnel
changes in Japanese Government and Diet, including the
Foreign Minister's outgoing. All these are internal affairs
of Japan. As Foreign Ministry spokesman of China I have no
intention to make any
comment.
Q: Is there any new
bilateral document to be signed between China and the U.S.?
What's your comment on the "fourth Joint
Communique" covered by media?
A: I am not aware of
information of this kind. With respect of the so-called
fourth Joint Communique, our position is a clear-cut one. We
hold that the three Join Communiques between China and the
U.S. have already set up guiding principles for the
bilateral relations and serve as the basis for the
establishment of development of the relations. Both sides
have the responsibility to abide by. Facts have shown that
so long as the principles of these Joint Communiques been
carried out in good faith, can bilateral relations develop
smoothly. Otherwise twists and turns and difficulties will
arise. We don't agree with some in saying that the three
Joint Communiques are out-dated. We call the U.S. Government
for strict compliance with the three Joint Communiques and
its relevant commitments, properly handle the problems in
bilateral relations, Taiwan question in particular. Only by
so doing, can Sino-U.S. relations embark on a healthy and
steady path.
Q:East Turikstan
National Congress accused China of defining it as
a terrorist organization and having strikes on it. It denies
any involvement with terrorist acts and relations with Bin
Ladin's organization. What's your comment?
A: The Information Office of
the State Council issued a very persuasive article with
respect to that matter on January 21. It says that after
full-fledged investigation, East Turkistan terrorists have
been found of constituting a series of terrorist activities
such as bombing, assassination, arson and attacks. There are
compelling evidence of their crimes against the innocent.
More than 160 lives were claimed and over 440 people were
injured. Abundant proof has also demonstrated that they have
very close relations with Bin Ladin's organization. They
were trained in Afghan's base, some even participated
Taliban's war. Their ugly face was totally exposed to the
world following September 11 incident. Therefore they have
tried all out to spread some accusations and rumors to rid
themselves off the relations with Bin Ladin. In fact, what
they've done has fully demonstrated their relations and they
are engaged in purely terrorist
acts.
Q: Vice Foreign Minister
Li Zhaoxing will visit the U.S. at the end of next month,
can you brief us on his specific programme? And will Vice
Chairman Hu Jingtao hold talks with President Bush during
his visit?
A: Vice Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing will pay a visit to the U.S. from 1st
to 6th of February. It's a regular consultation at the level
of vice Foreign Minister. It's also to make preparations for
the upcoming working visit to China by President Bush. Vice
Foreign Minister will exchange views with senior officials
from the U.S. side on the visit, bilateral relations and
other issues of common interest. Arrangements of the
meetings between President Bush and Chinese leaders are
still under discussion between the two
sides.
Q: Will President Bush's
visit be conducive to peace and stability in South Asia?
A: We hold that China and the
U.S. share a wide range of common interests. So long as the
Three Joint Communiques and basic norms guiding
international relations be complied with and questions
between the two countries, Taiwan question in particular be
solved properly, Sino-U.S. relations will press ahead in a
smooth and healthy way. We believe that it will be conducive
to regional and world peace and
stability.
Q: Will President
Bush's visit be conducive to peace and stability in South
Asia, especially relaxation of the relations between India
and Pakistan?
A: I've already
said that in my view healthy and smoothly developing
Sino-U.S. relations will benefit peace and stability of the
region and the world at
large.
Q: In its combat on
terrorism, how will China solve the problems of the Uygurs
in Xinjiang, for example, giving people there more rights?
A: In my view, maybe you are
still interested in China's attitude on anti-terrorism. On
the one hand, we firmly support the international
cooperation in anti-terrorism. On the other, it's quite
clear that there is abundant proof to demonstrate that East
Turkistan terrorists are part of international terrorist
forces and combat against East Turkistan terrorists
constitutes an important part of the international
anti-terror campaign. China's position on this matter is
clear-cut. I don't agree with your assertion at all. I've
been to Xinjiang for many times. It enjoys social stability
and economic progress. People of various ethnic groups there
live in harmony and enjoy high degree of autonomy. We don't
have any problem of that kind
there.
Q: The U.S. doesn't
define East Turkistan as terrorist group, will China discuss
this issue with President Bush during his visit?
A: I have no idea of who in
the U.S. has made such an assertion. Nor do I know the
justification for it. Judging from the proof we have got,
it's clear that East Turkistan terrorists have committed
numerous crimes, close relations with international
terrorist forces and conducted quite a few terrorist acts in
China.
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