Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on August 22, 2019

Q: The United States yesterday put sanctions on three Chinese men that the government has accused of illegally trafficking fentanyl in the United States. I believe all three of them are currently in China. Will the Chinese government arrest these men?

A: Apparently you need to ask the relevant authority for this question, as it is about whether or not they will be arrested.

What I can tell you is that China and the US maintain cooperation in combating narcotics. The law enforcement authorities of the two sides have communications on specific cases. So I believe you'll need to ask the relevant authority for the specifics.

Q: Western officials have told the Wall Street Journal they are concerned that counter-demonstrations overseas being held against violent activities in Hong Kong, including in the UK and Australia, may have been organized or encouraged by China's local diplomatic missions. Do you have a comment?

A: I answered a similar question the other day. I guess you weren't here then? Do you need me to repeat that for you?

You may note that recently in some foreign cities, overseas Chinese, including Chinese students, have taken to the street to express their aspiration and appeal in support of the motherland's national unity as well as prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. I'd like to stress the following points.

First, it is totally understandable and reasonable for Chinese students and other Chinese citizens overseas to express indignation and opposition against such words and deeds that attempt to separate China and smear its image.

Second, we also hope the overseas Chinese can express their patriotism in a rational way and protect themselves from harm.

Third, the Chinese government asks the overseas Chinese to observe local laws and regulations. In the meantime, we hope relevant countries can understand and respect their legal activities and protect their lawful rights and interests.

In addition, you said these activities were organized by Chinese diplomatic missions overseas. But I can tell you clearly that the biggest appeal of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, including the Hong Kong compatriots, is to stop violence, end chaos and restore order. Their biggest aspiration is to uphold Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. This is the common will of 1.4 billion Chinese nationals. Do you think it is something that can be organized or manipulated?

Q: The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that his government will not back down on Canada's various disputes with China. What's your response to this?

A: Lately China-Canada relations have encountered serious difficulties. The responsibility lies completely with the Canadian side. Canada knows the root cause clearly. Loudness is not necessarily persuasive and people can tell right from wrong. We urge the Canadian side to reflect upon its wrongdoing, take China's solemn position and concerns seriously, immediately release Ms. Meng Wanzhou and ensure her safe return to China.

We have also noted that the Canadian side made a series of incorrect comments on Hong Kong. Let me say this again: Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs and brook no interference from any country, organization or individual. Canada is in no place and has no right to wantonly comment on them. We hope it will abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, stop its wanton criticism on Hong Kong affairs and interference in China's internal affairs.

Q: British lawmakers said they received a letter from Hong Kong's former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, asking them to stop making remarks on the protest against the amendment bill in Hong Kong. But he denied this today. What's your comment?

A: Now that the person concerned already denied it, what do you expect me to say? That is just false information.

Q: A Kansas University researcher has been indicted on federal fraud charges for concealing the fact that he had ties to a Chinese university while also involved in a research project funded by the US government. Are you aware of this case?

A: I'm not aware of that. We support normal people-to-people and academic exchange between China and the US.

A journalist posed the following question after the press conference: We have learned that the Chinese government will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries to prevent and control the Ebola epidemic. Could the foreign ministry share more information on that?

A: Today China International Development Cooperation Agency announced that it will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to countries including the DRC, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan to prevent and control the Ebola epidemic. It will also work together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) in this field.

China has been following closely the Ebola epidemic in Africa and doing its best to help. As a major developing country and a true friend to Africa, we see it as our international obligation. After the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa, China was among the first to answer the call of African countries with prompt assistance. That demonstrated our traditional friendship featuring mutual assistance and set a good example for international cooperation with Africa. As the Ebola epidemic continues in the DRC, we stand together with the people there and feel what they feel. Therefore we decided to offer further emergency assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels, focusing on both treatment and prevention. We have been brothers through thick and thin, and now we are adding a new chapter tothetime-tested China-Africa brotherhood with concrete actions.

China and Africa always stand together as a community with a shared future. Assistance in Ebola prevention and control is part of our medical and health cooperation and an important component of the health care initiative, one of the eight major initiatives on China-Africa cooperation rolled out at the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit. As we speak, 46 Chinese medical teams with almost a thousand staff members are working in 45 African countries, gaining wide acclaim in Africa and the world.

Going forward, China will stay in close communication and coordination with the DRC and other African countries as well as the WHO and the AU. Based on the African countries' needs and the development of the Ebola epidemic, China will continue to offer necessary assistance to the best of our capabilities. In the meantime, we call on the international community to take more concrete measures to help the DRC and other African countries to secure an early victory against the epidemic.