CCTV: According to reports, in response to the repatriation of 40 Chinese nationals to China from Thailand on February 27, the U.S., U.K., Germany and the European Union, among others, issued statements, in which they condemned Thailand’s repatriation and called on China to protect human rights. Do you have any comment?
Lin Jian: China firmly opposes using so-called Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs and disrupt normal law enforcement cooperation between China and relevant countries under the pretext of human rights. Let me stress that the repatriation is carried out in accordance with the laws of China and Thailand as well as international law and common practices. China upholds the rule of law and has well-developed laws and regulations and working mechanisms in human rights protection in the judicial area. The achievements are there for all to see. People of all ethnic groups in China, including the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, fully enjoy economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.
Certain countries and international organizations, in disregard of facts, have made unfounded accusations against the normal law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand on combating smuggling and other cross-border illegal and criminal activities, even fabricated false narratives related to Xinjiang, and politicized this issue.
Illegal migration and smuggling are recognized by all as crimes, which seriously disrupt the normal cross-border order. China will continue to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries to jointly address the challenge of smuggling and other cross-border crimes, guarantee the safe and orderly flow of Chinese and foreign nationals in accordance with the law, and protect the lawful rights and interests of inbound and outbound travelers.
Rudaw Media Network: The jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan calls on the group to lay down arms and disband. What is China’s position on that?
Lin Jian: We noted the reports. China supports relevant sides of Türkiye in settling differences through political means.
AFP: U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that he would impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports next week. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this?
Lin Jian: The U.S. once again uses the fentanyl issue as a pretext to threaten China with additional tariffs on its exports to the U.S. China firmly deplores and strongly opposes this move, and will take what is necessary to resolutely defend its legitimate interests.
China makes it clear more than once that trade and tariff wars have no winners. The unilateral tariff hikes by the U.S. severely violate the WTO rules, and harm the interests of both countries and the world. China is one of the world’s strictest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. The fentanyl issue is the U.S.’s own problem. China has given support to the U.S.’s response to the fentanyl issue in the spirit of humanity. At the U.S.’s request, China announced back in 2019 the decision to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class. We are the first country in the world to do so. China has conducted counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side in a broad-based and in-depth way. The remarkable progress is there for all to see. People from various sectors in the U.S. have expressed thanks to China on different occasions. The fentanyl issue is just an excuse the U.S. uses to impose tariffs on, pressure and blackmail China, and they punish us for helping them. This will not solve their concerns. It is only counterproductive and will deal a heavy blow to the dialogue and cooperation with China on counternarcotics.
Pressuring, coercion and threat is not the right way to deal with China. Instead, mutual respect is the basic prerequisite. We urge the U.S. to correct its wrongdoing and return to the right track of addressing each other’s concerns through equal-footed consultations.
Shenzhen TV: It’s reported that on February 26, two senators from the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee jointly introduced a resolution, saying that the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance have stripped away the basic rights of the people in Hong Kong. American companies need to reconsider their business presence in Hong Kong. What’s China’s comment?
Lin Jian: Individual U.S. senators have attacked and smeared the legislation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, made baseless allegations against Hong Kong’s human rights conditions and the rule of law, and grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs. China opposes this.
It’s fully justified and beyond any doubt that the HKSAR government firmly implements the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to lawfully crack down on the crimes that endanger national security. The implementation of the laws safeguards Hong Kong residents’ various rights and freedoms entitled in the law, provides solid underpinning for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and better protects the lawful rights and interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong. The 2025 Business Sentiment Survey Findings Report recently released by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong shows that American companies in Hong Kong view the national security laws in a more objective way, and are more confident in the business environment there. This is a vote of confidence from the American businesses there for Hong Kong’s development outlook. Facts prove that with the safeguards of One Country, Two Systems, the strong support of the nation, and concerted efforts of all sectors, Hong Kong will maintain lasting prosperity and stability.
Let me stress that the US has churned out laws for national security, but kept slinging mud on and labeling the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. This is an out-and-out political manipulation, hypocrisy and double standard. We urge certain U.S. congressmen to respect China’s sovereignty, abide by the principles of international law and the basic principles of international relations, immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.
AFP: Russian news agencies have reported that Russia’s former defense chief Sergei Shoigu, who is now Secretary of the Security Council, arrived in Beijing today. It is reported that he’s going to meet with Chinese leader and Foreign Minister. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm this and provide any more details?
Lin Jian: As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination in the new era, China and Russia have maintained close high-level exchanges. As for the specific question you asked, I have no information to share for the time being.
Dragon TV: It’s reported that the ROK leader once again mentioned China-related issues in his statement at the impeachment trial held by the Constitutional Court. He cited the threats to national security posed by drones flown by Chinese nationals, and core national technologies and defense industry secrets being leaked to China. What’s China’s comment?
Lin Jian: Days after the martial law was imposed at the end of last year, the ROK side made similar remarks and China has made clear its solemn position. China is committed to the principle of non-interference in others’ internal affairs, and believes that the ROK people have the wisdom and capability to handle their domestic issues. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose certain forces and personnel in the ROK creating ill-intentioned association on and propagating China-related issues for political gains.
Throwing mud at one’s neighbor will not solve one’s own problem. We noted that recently, the ROK Foreign Ministry and the ROK-China Parliamentarians’ Union have publicly underlined the importance they attach to China-ROK relations, and some media outlets and visionary people in the ROK have expressed concerns over the political manipulation by certain forces in the ROK, which undermines the public foundation of the two countries.
The sound and steady development of China-ROK relations serves the common interests of the two countries. We once again urge relevant individuals in the ROK to stop fabricating and peddling false narratives about China, stop vilifying and attacking China, stop using China-related issues for political agenda, and avoid disrupting and undermining the bilateral relations.
The Wall Street Journal: Just like to ask about some comments that Secretary of State Marco Rubio made earlier this week in an interview related to the fentanyl issue. He said that he believed it was possible that China was deliberately seeking to “flood” the United States with fentanyl. Do you have any comment? What does that mean in your view for U.S.-China fentanyl cooperation going forward during this administration?
Lin Jian: We noted relevant reports. What he said during the interviews is full of the Cold War mentality and preaches containment, suppression and blame shifting, which seriously undermines China’s interests. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose that.
On the issue of fentanyl, I just stated China’s solemn position. Let me reiterate that fentanyl is a problem for the U.S. China has given support to the U.S.’s response to the fentanyl issue in the spirit of humanity, and conducted counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side in a broad-based and in-depth way, which produced remarkable results. People from various sectors in the U.S. have expressed their appreciation to China for this on many occasions. If the U.S. continues to use the fentanyl issue to pressure, blackmail, coerce and threaten China, it will only be counterproductive and deal a blow to the dialogue and cooperation between China and the U.S. in the field of drug control.
We stand ready to work with the U.S. to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. Meanwhile, China will continue to take measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. We hope that the U.S. side will earnestly implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state in their phone call and work with China in the same direction.
Reuters: Another question about what U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said as well. This is in regards to Thailand returning 40 Uyghurs to China. Our question is, in his comment, he said China’s treatment of the ethnic group amounts to “genocide and crimes against humanity.” How does China respond to that? Australia also said it strongly disagrees with that repatriation and has raised concerns with China on this. Does China have specifically any response to Australia?
Lin Jian: I shared China’s serious position just now. With regard to the remarks of relevant U.S. politician, let me point out that the allegations, including the so-called genocide, is a sheer lie of the century. Xinjiang enjoys economic growth, social stability and harmony among all ethnic groups, and people there live a better life. The facts are clear for all to see and no one can ignore that. Certain countries and individual politicians have fabricated and spread lies to destabilize Xinjiang. China firmly opposes interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, and disrupting normal law enforcement cooperation between countries in the name of Xinjiang-related issues. Relevant politicians need to stop concocting and peddling these false accusations against Xinjiang.