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October 16, 2018

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Chinese envoy dismisses US charges as groundless

CHINESE ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has voiced China’s position on issues of mutual concern with the United States, dismissing recent accusations against China as “groundless.”

Cui made the remarks in an interview with Fox News Sunday. Commenting on US Vice President Mike Pence’s tough words on China, Cui said “all these accusations are groundless.”

“One of the fundamental principles in China’s foreign policy is non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. And we have been consistent in this position. We have a very good track record,” Cui said.

The ambassador noted that Chinese media were just learning from American media, buying commercial pages from newspapers to make their views known, or to cover what is happening here.

“This is normal practice for all the media,” he said.

Referring to the ongoing trade disputes between the two sides, Cui said China does not want to have any trade war with any other countries, including the United States.

“But if somebody started a trade war against us, we have to respond and defend our own interests,” the Chinese envoy said. “So this is tariffs for tariffs. It’s for nothing else,” he said.

China and the United States, as the two largest economies in the world, have the responsibility to make sure that they have a positive and constructive relationship, said Cui.

“That will enhance people’s confidence in the prospects of the global economy,” he said.

Referring to accusations that China steals intellectual property and forces technology transfers from US companies that invest in China to Chinese companies, Cui said those accusations about how China has developed are groundless and not fair to the Chinese people.

“It would be hard to imagine that one fifth of the global population could develop and prosper, not by relying mainly on their own efforts, but by stealing or forcing some transfer of technology from others. That’s impossible,” he said. “The Chinese people are as hard-working and diligent as anybody on earth.”

When asked about the recent incident between Chinese and US warships in the South China Sea, Cui said the incident took place in the South China Sea. “So its at China’s doorstep.”

“It’s not Chinese warships that are going to the coast of California or to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s so close to the Chinese islands and — it’s so close to the Chinese coast. So who is on the offensive? Who is on the defensive? This is very clear,” Cui said.

On US arms sales to Taiwan, Cui said “this is a very good example of American intervention into Chinese internal affairs.”




 

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