China again urges US side to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday once again urged the US side to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, stressing that no one should underestimate China's firm resolve to implement the "one country, two systems" principle and safeguard prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the comments when responded to a letter from some US lawmakers Friday, in which they urged the US government not to help the "repression" of Hong Kong's "peaceful demonstrations" and rejected the idea of defining those demonstrations as "riots."

"The relevant US individuals are calling black white with ill intentions. We firmly oppose that," said Hua.

Hua said the violent radicals in Hong Kong smashed their way into the Legislative Building and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with iron sticks. They wantonly vandalized public facilities, obstructed public traffic and illegally stored dangerous goods and offensive weapons. They attacked the police in lethal means, beat them and even bit their fingers off. They tarnished the national emblem and national flag.

Those scenes have been witnessed by people around the world. How on earth do those individuals in the United States call them "peaceful demonstrations"? Hua asked.

"All people with conscience will agree those violent behaviors have already crossed the bottom line of any civilized society. They have crossed the line of peaceful demonstration and freedom of expression. They have gravely trampled on Hong Kong's rule of law, threatened local people's safety and property and violated the bottom line of 'one country, two systems' principle," said Hua. "Such things simply cannot be tolerated."

She said the US side doesn't mention at all and has turned a blind eye to the power abuse and violent law enforcement of police at home. But at the same time, it blatantly criticized or even tried to smear the professional, civilized and constrained law enforcement of Hong Kong police. "This will only help the world see how arrogant, biased, hypocritical, ruthless, selfish and bossy the US side is."

Is rampant violence and collapse of rule of law something the US side calls "human rights and freedom"? Hua asked.

Hua also urged the US side to stop conniving at violent criminals, and undermining the administering by the government of the HKSAR in accordance with law and interfering in Hong Kong affairs.

Shifting blames

China refuted US defense secretary's recent claim that China is destabilizing the Indo-Pacific, saying the relevant remarks were just shifting blames in an irresponsible manner, and China's military development is purely defensive in nature.

Hua said that for a long time, the United States has been grossly interfering in the affairs of regional countries in the Asia Pacific. Politically, it has tried to drive a wedge between them by promoting so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy." It has adopted a selfish beggar-thy-neighbor approach in economic affairs while making military deployment and strengthening military allies in the region.

"It's crystal clear who is undermining regional stability in Asia-Pacific," said Hua.

Hua said for some time the United States has been using China as an excuse on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces and other issues, hyping up so-called "China's missile threat" in total disregard of the facts. This is just what the United States always does to shift blames to other countries.

Hua said despite strong international opposition, the United States chose to withdraw from the INF Treaty. Now it is hastily seeking to deploy intermediate-range missiles in Asia.

"This in fact reveals the real intention of the US withdrawal from the treaty," said Hua.

In the meantime, Hua said China pursues a defense policy that is defensive in nature.

"We develop military power out of self-defense purpose. We do not intend to and will not pose a threat to any country," she said.

"All of China's land-based short- and intermediate-range missiles are deployed within our territory, which testifies to the defensive nature of our defense policy," she said.

"However, if the United States deploys intermediate-range missiles in Asia-Pacific, especially around China, its aim will apparently be offensive," said Hua, adding that if the United States insists on doing so, the international and regional security will inevitably be severely undermined.

"China will not just sit idly by and watch our interests being compromised. What's more, we will not allow any country to stir up troubles at our doorstep. We will take all necessary measures to safeguard national security interests," said Hua.

"We hope the US will exercise prudence and refrain from escalating tensions or undermining international and regional peace," said Hua.