According to Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming, "the United States has publicly declared its readiness to shape the strategic environment around China."
The United States is de facto engaged in nuclear proliferation in the Asian region,including its unlawful transfer of nuclear submarines to Australia, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming has told TASS in an interview.
"As far as Australia is concerned, the United States and the United Kingdom are transferring submarines to Australia. In essence, this constitutes nuclear proliferation and poses serious threat to peace and stability in this region. In fact this shows that the US is the biggest troublemaker for regional peace and security," he said.
According to the Chinese official, "the United States has publicly declared its readiness to shape the strategic environment around China."
"They have put forward the Indo-Pacific strategy under the pretext of promoting freedom and openness, but in reality this is just an attempt to pull together small groups and exclusive blocs to contain China's development," Liu Xiaoming said.
"In North-East Asia, the United States, South Korea and Japan continue to hold large-scale military exercises that stir tensions on the Korean Peninsula. And in Southeast Asia, the United States is also holding joint military exercises with the Philippines,with the participation of 12,000 US servicemen. The United States repeatedly stokes tension in the South China Sea as well," he added.
Moreover, Liu Xiaoming continued, "the Americans attempt to use Taiwan for containing China by playing the Taiwan card, resulting in tensions in the Taiwan Strait."
At the same time, China is "firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and a defensive national defense policy, and, through its concrete actions, promotes world peace, common development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."
"On the one hand, we need to promote development on the basis of extensive discussion, joint contribution and shared benefits," he said. "But, on the other hand, we also need an army for peace that defends the fruits of our independent development."
"In a nutshell, we need to strengthen national defense and create a world-class military, to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the hard-won development achievements of our country," Liu Xiaoming said. "This is also necessary for the security of our region and the entire world."
Washington fanning Ukraine crisis, while Beijing proposes peace plan - Chinese envoy
The Chinese side always takes a prudent and responsible approach to the export of military products, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming said.
The United States has been fanning the conflict in Ukraine, while China has come up with a peace plan, a senior Chinese diplomat said in an interview with TASS.
"The Chinese side always takes a prudent and responsible approach to the export of military products. Unlike the United States and other Western nations, who have been adding fuel to the fire in the Ukrainian crisis, we put forward a peace plan to resolve it," said Liu Xiaoming, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs.
In late February, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published a position paper on a political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. The twelve-point document includes calls for a ceasefire, respect for the legitimate interests of all countries in the field of security, settlement of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the exchange of prisoners of war between Moscow and Kiev, as well as the cancellation of unilateral sanctions imposed without a corresponding decision of the UN Security Council.
In the published document, China described dialogue and negotiations as the sole way of resolving the crisis in Ukraine and called on all parties to support Moscow and Kiev in "working in the same direction", urging a resumption of direct dialogue as soon as possible. The international community should create conditions and platforms for the resumption of talks, the document emphasized.
Russian, Chinese armed forces to strengthen relations, says envoy
Liu Xiaoming noted that Beijing and Moscow were getting new progress in inter-military relations following strategic communication, joint exercises and training, and practical cooperation.
Russia and China intend to strengthen relations between the armed forces of the two countries, Liu Xiaoming Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs told TASS.
The envoy recalled that Li Shangfu, State Councilor of the People's Republic of China and National Defense Minister, arrived on an official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. "General Li Shangfu is on a visit in Moscow precisely to strengthen ties between the armed forces of China and Russia. As we know this is an important component of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era," he pointed out.
"So the purpose of this visit is to strengthen relations between the armed forces of China and Russia,which have maintained high momentum in recent years," the envoy pointed out.
Liu Xiaoming noted that Beijing and Moscow were getting new progress in inter-military relations following strategic communication, joint exercises and training, and practical cooperation.
He also emphasized that this visit "will undoubtedly further enhance the relations between the armed forces of the two countries and will enrich the strategic content of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era".
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu arrived in Russia on an official four-day visit on April 16. This marks his first foreign trip after being appointed as head of the Chinese Defense Ministry.
China cannot pledge to abstain from using force against separatists on Taiwan, says envoy
"We strive to achieve peaceful reunification, but we reserve the right to take all necessary measures to protect our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming stressed.
China reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and makes no promises to abstain from using force against separatists on Taiwan, Liu Xiaoming Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs said in an interview with TASS.
"One Country means one China, and One Country is the precondition of One Country, Two Systems and the foundation upon which everything else rests. We strive to achieve peaceful reunification under One Country, Two Systems, but we reserve the right to take all necessary measures to protect our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In particular, we have never promised not to use force. Had we made such a promise, peaceful reunification would have become absolutely impossible," he pointed out.
"However, this position of ours is not directed against our Taiwan compatriots; it is 'Taiwan independence' separatists and other external forces seeking to divide our country that it is against," the Chinese special envoy explained.
When asked about the likelihood of a military conflict around Taiwan breaking out this year, Liu noted that, in his view, “it’s better to stress to all countries around the world about the importance of upholding the one-China principle.”
"The one-China principle is the anchor for stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait. As long as the principle is observed, peace and stability will be ensured in the Taiwan Strait, as well as peaceful development on both shores. Otherwise, the Taiwan Strait would plunge into instability. We can also see that it was the visit made by [former US House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi to Taiwan and the visit by the head of the Taiwan authorities to the US that gave rise to tension," the Chinese envoy emphasized.
China not supplying weapons to Russia, Ukraine - special envoy
Liu Xiaoming also noted that the US had no right to issue orders to Beijing on its relations with Russia.
China has never supplied weapons to Russia or Ukraine,but Beijing does not countenance blackmail and will not bow to orders issued by the US, Liu Xiaoming, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs said in an interview with TASS.
"I would like to reiterate that China is neither the instigator of nor a party to the Ukrainian crisis and it has never supplied weapons to either of the parties to the Ukrainian conflict," he pointed out.
The envoy also noted that the US had no right to issue orders to Beijing. "We won’t accept any kind of lecturing or blackmail from the United States," Liu added.
Chinese envoy points finger at negative US role in stoking escalation on Korean Peninsula
Liu Xiaoming criticized the United States for not having paid due attention to the DPRK's security concerns.
Beijing is extremely concerned about the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula,with the United States playing a negative role by holding joint drills with ROK, Liu Xiaoming, Beijing’s Special Representative on Korean Peninsula Affairs said in an interview with TASS.
"My trip to European countries and Russia comes against the backdrop of the latest changes on the Korean Peninsula. On the one hand, we often hear Westerners - both the Europeans and the Americans - complain that since last year the DPRK has conducted a number of missile launches, while on the other hand, we can see that the ROK and the Americans held the largest drills over the past five years on the peninsula," the senior Chinese diplomat lamented. "The escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula is ongoing, and this makes us very concerned," he added.
Liu also criticized the United States for not having paid due attention to the DPRK's security concerns.
"First of all, I try to give my European and Russian counterparts a clear understanding of how China views the situation. The US always blames the DPRK for causing tensions, but there is another reason that is worth noting. We see the reason as stemming from the US conducting such major military exercises. Second, a very important cause of instability on the Korean Peninsula, and of the Korean Peninsula becoming an issue, is that the United States has not paid due attention to the DPRK’s concerns in the field of security and has imposed economic sanctions," the Chinese envoy said. "They continue to increase pressure and contain the DPRK’s development; they exert political pressure and have imposed economic sanctions," he added.
According to Liu, the goal of his tour is to share the Chinese assessment of the situation on the Korean Peninsula with his counterparts and to find a recipe for promoting a political settlement jointly with European and Russian colleagues.
The senior Chinese diplomat said Moscow was the last stop on his 24-day foreign itinerary during which he said he had already visited Switzerland Great Britain,Brussels, Germany and France.
Liu urged efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. "Amid the lack of a peace mechanism, the escalation of tensions is ongoing, which threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," he concluded.
Chinese envoy does not see sovereign future for Taiwan
"From time immemorial, Taiwan has been an integral part of China; it has never been a country and it will never become one," Liu Xiaoming emphasized.
Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and will never become a country, Liu Xiaoming, Beijing's Special Representative on Korean Peninsula Affairs, said in an interview with TASS.
Forces seeking independence for Taiwan have lately colluded with external forces, the senior Chinese diplomat said. "They have conducted a number of activities that threaten stability in the Taiwan Strait and violate the one-China principle," he said, referring to the visit of then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan as well as the visit by head of Taiwan authorities Tsai Ing-wen to the United States.
"From time immemorial, Taiwan has been an integral part of China; it has never been a country and it will never become one," the envoy emphasized.
Liu reiterated that peaceful reunification of the two shores of the Taiwan Strait was "the common aspiration of the Chinese people and an important component of the nation’s rejuvenation." "We will display maximum sincerity and exert utmost efforts in pursuing peaceful reunification," he assured the TASS reporter.
He also said that Chinese compatriots on Taiwan would hopefully join together to contribute to what he said would be the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
"You know that Mr. Deng Xiaoping formulated that policy exactly with the aim of resolving the Taiwan question, and over time we resolved the issues of Hong Kong and Macao, and the One Country, Two Systems principle proved its effectiveness precisely in Hong Kong and Macao, and therefore we have confidence that this policy will be a success in Taiwan, too," Liu concluded.
Army developing amid challenges to defense of sovereignty - China's special representative
Liu Xiaoming stressed that China was following a path of peaceful development and pursuing a defensive defense policy and had always made great contributions to defending global peace, promoting international development and protecting the world order.
The development of the Chinese army in the context of new challenges is aimed precisely at protecting the country's sovereignty and security interests, but, however developed China may become, Beijing will never seek hegemony or expansion, Beijing's special envoy for Korean Peninsula affairs, Liu Xiaoming, told TASS in an interview when asked for comment on Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent instructions to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to step up training for real combat operations.
"China’s work on its defense posture and efforts to strengthen the Chinese army pursue exclusively defensive aims to protect China's peace environment and to let our country make new achievements in economic development and improve the well-being of our people. In other words, any growth in China's military strength is a growth in the force for global peace," he said, adding that the Chinese army was actively involved in UN peacekeeping missions in escorting ships in the Gulf of Aden and in other humanitarian operations.
"We are exerting great efforts to provide more public goods for the world in the sphere of security," Liu added.
"At present, the worlds faces multiple challenges. Under these circumstances, we need to pay attention to the fact that China has not achieved reunification of the country thus far. The development of the Chinese army is aimed precisely at protecting our sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and development interests. Let me stress once again: No matter how developed China may become,we will never pursue hegemony or expansion. We will continue to make our contribution to building a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, and clean and beautiful environment." he stressed.
Liu noted that the Chinese president recently "visited the Chinese army's Southern Theater Command and, in his speech there, pointed to the importance of implementing the Communist Party of China's thinking on strengthening military strength in the new era, adhering to the military strategy of the new era, intensifying the military's training for real combat operations, accelerating the reform and upgrade of the Chinese army, and resolutely fulfilling the tasks set by the Party and the people."
Liu stressed that China follows a path of peaceful development and pursues a defense policy that is defensive in nature, and had always made great contributions to defending global peace, promoting international development and protecting the world order. He stressed the Chinese people’s commitment to peace.
"In the 70-plus years since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, we never provoked a single war or took an inch of other people's land," Liu said.
Beijing sees military operation with regard to Taiwan as legitimate option - China’s envoy
When asked if Beijing considers a special military operation against Taiwan possible, Liu Xiaoming said that the Chinese government reserves the right to take all necessary measures to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.
The question of Taiwan is not a diplomatic issue and is of no concern to outside powers, while all necessary measures are legitimate options for Beijing, China’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, Liu Xiaoming, told TASS in an interview.
"You asked about the possibility of resolving this issue by diplomatic means, so I would like to emphasize that the Taiwan question is an internal affair of China. This is not a diplomatic issue. But if you mean a peaceful way when you say 'diplomatic method', then I think that One Country,Two Systems is exactly the plan to resolve this question in a peaceful way," he said.
When asked if Beijing considers a special military operation against Taiwan possible, Liu Xiaoming said that the Chinese government reserves the right to take all necessary measures to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.
"This is not directed against our compatriots in Taiwan, it is directed against 'Taiwan independence' separatists and other external forces, because their actions violate the Chinese constitution and contravene the Anti-Secession Law. So we will counter these actions in accordance with the law. We will take all necessary measures to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. This is our sacred right," he said.
The diplomat also noted that, among all world powers, China is the only country that has not yet achieved its reunification, so its reunification is the common aspiration of the entire Chinese people, as well as the clear stipulation of the Chinese constitution.
"Peaceful reunification under One Country, Two Systems is a basic policy that is in the interests of the entire Chinese nation, including our Taiwan compatriots. This is a plan of peace, democracy, good will and mutual benefit, as well as the most realistic, most tolerant project for resolving the issue of the differing political systems on the two shores of the Taiwan Strait," he added.
Chinese diplomat says Beijing immediately notified Washington about balloon
Liu Xiaoming emphasized that Beijing had called on Washington "to be rational, cool-headed and professional" in order to jointly settle this situation, but that the US ignored basic facts and fired a missile to down the balloon.
A senior Chinese diplomat lambasted the recent incident with a Chinese balloon above the United States as a farce on the part of Washington, saying that Beijing notified the Americans as soon as the balloon entered their airspace.
Commenting on the incident in an interview with TASS, Liu Xiaoming, Beijing's Special Representative on Korean Peninsula Affairs said that this civilian airship was used purely for meteorological purposes and that it posed no threat to either the US population or other facilities on US soil. The balloon was brought into the US airspace by westerlies as it deviated from its designated course, Liu maintained. He insisted that the incident had been caused by "force majeure events."
“The incident with the Chinese balloon is, in fact a farce directed by the United States. The Chinese side took a very responsible approach, and it promptly passed the relevant information to the US side and the international community,” he said.
Liu emphasized that Beijing had called on Washington "to be rational, cool-headed and professional" in order to jointly settle this situation,but that the US ignored the basic facts and fired a missile to down the balloon.
"The hysteria bewildered us completely. That 100% was an abuse of military power and a gross violation of relevant international conventions and international practice. This is no proof of US greatness, but quite the opposite. We have already expressed strong protest to the US side and urged them to show sincerity, change their mistaken policies, and squarely recognize and rectify the damages caused by that incident to bilateral relations," he maintained.
The senior Chinese diplomat warned that Beijing would not sit and wait if the United States inflated the situation. "It is the Unite States who is to blame for all the consequences," he added.
Special envoy highlights China's determination to defend national dignity from US actions
According to Liu Xiaoming, China has always believed that "healthy, stable relations between China and the US benefit not only the people of the two countries but also world peace and prosperity".
Beijing is determined to vigorously defend its sovereignty and national dignity from the actions of the United States, Liu Xiaoming, Beijing's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs said in an interview with TASS.
"President Xi Jinping outlined the main principles for building relations with the US, which include mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation. We are willing to build good relations with the US based on these principles," the Chinese special envoy noted. “However, should our sovereignty, national dignity and territorial integrity be violated, we will firmly defend our sovereignty, security and development interests,” he added.
"Unfortunately, the US views China as its primary rival and the biggest geopolitical challenge," he went on to say. "Their perception and definition of China are seriously mistaken. They chose an erroneous strategy towards China, which is summed up in three words: invest, align and compete."
According to Liu, China has always believed that "healthy, stable relations between China and the US benefit not only the people of the two
countries but also world peace and prosperity."
"President Xi Jinping pointed out that whether China and the US can managed their relations well bears on the future of the world. Getting the relationship right is not optional, but something we must do and must do well,” the Chinese special envoy concluded.