Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Remarks on September 12, 2019

Q: Former Australian Prime Minister Abbott said during an interview that the British government should ban Chinese telecommunications companies from its 5G network roll-out and that it is important for the Five Eyes network to have a common approach to this. Australian Ambassador Feakin for Cyber Affairs also said to India that "high-risk vendors" like Huawei will bring risks to its 5G network. I wonder what is your comment on that?

A: Under the pretext of national security, Australia was the first country to ban Chinese companies from its 5G network roll-out without any evidence of risks. It is blatant discrimination against Chinese companies. Australia has also been lecturing other countries about the 5G network and encouraging them to follow suit. Such disgraceful and immoral conduct is against basic market principles and international rules, which China firmly opposes. We advise some in Australia to not overstep their bounds, to not go further astray on their wrong path, and to stop doing such things that hurt the interests of Australia itself and others.

Q: As far as we know, the US warned the Solomon Islands to not feel pressured in making the decision to establish diplomatic ties with China. I wonder if you have any comment? Do you think the US is attempting to undermine the one-China principle?

A: As is known to all, there is only one China. Commitment to the one-China principle is the right choice that serves the greater good of international relations and meets the trend of the times. This choice has been made by 178 countries. China is ready to develop friendship and cooperation with all countries based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

China believes that state-to-state relations should be following the basic principle of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. We oppose the gross interference in the affairs of other countries by the US side. Such misconduct is unreasonable and unacceptable.

Q: According to media reports, on the evening of September 11, the US Senate reviewed and passed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019, calling on the US government to exert more pressure on China for Xinjiang-related issues. Do you have a comment on that?

A: China firmly opposes the passage of the bill by the US Senate. In total disregard of facts, this bill smeared and criticized the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the Chinese government's Xinjiang policies. Such flagrant interference in China's internal affairs will only make the Chinese people more indignant. We urge the US side to respect facts, return to reason, discard the Cold-War mentality, stop taking Xinjiang-related issues as a pretext to interfere in China's domestic affairs, and stop pushing the bill to become law so as to prevent damages to the overall relationship between China and the US.