Q: China has indicated on many occasions
that the US military action in Afghanistan should target
only terrorists. However, 4 Arab UN NGO workers died as a
result of the military action by the US and Britain. What is
your comment on this?
A: We express
regret over the casualties of Afghan civilians caused by the
air strikes launched by the US and Britain against
Afghanistan. We have all along stressed that actions against
terrorism should be aimed at specific terrorist targets and
should avoid harming innocent civilians. We are of the view
that these principles are very important in effectively
combating terrorism. It is our hope that these principles
can be carried out
effectively.
Q: It is reported
that the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan has asked Chinese
companies located in Pakistan to close their offices and
send their staff home. Is it true? What actions has the
Chinese Embassy in Pakistan taken to protect Chinese
citizens there?
A: I have already
made inquiries about this. According to my knowledge, at
present, all the Chinese institutes in Pakistan are running
normally, including Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and Chinese
Consulate General in Karachi. We have also learned that
Chinese personnel who worked near the Pakistan-Afghanistan
border have already left the dangerous border region for
safer places in Pakistan.
Q:
There have been reports that China has sent rapid response
troop to border with Afghanistan. Is that an indication that
China is thinking of stepping up cooperation on the military
front with the US-Britain alliance against
Taliban?
A: I have not heard about
the reports you just mentioned. However, as far as I know,
in light of the present situation, China has strengthened
border control and security measures in the border area with
Afghanistan.
Q: Is China
concerned that the Afghan Northern Alliance will seize
control of Afghanistan by taking advantage of the strikes
launched by the US and Britain against
Afghanistan?
A: We have all along
stressed that all moves against Afghanistan should be
restricted to opposition to terrorism. On the domestic
situations in Afghanistan, it is China’s hope that
stability in Afghanistan can prevail and peace be restored.
Afghanistan should have a united government that is
broadly-based, acceptable to parties concerned and that can
get on well with other countries, particularly its
neighboring countries. This is not only in conformity with
the fundamental interests of the Afghan people, but also
conducive to regional peace and
stability.
Q: Has the Chinese
government asked Chinese Muslim leaders to reject the call
for Jihad issued by Taliban and Bin Laden against the
US?
A: I think I have repeatedly
stressed on this podium that China opposes all forms of
terrorism. However, we should differentiate terrorists from
religion and Islam. Opposition to terrorism must not be
viewed as conflicts among religions or
civilizations.
Q: When meeting
with his Qatar counterpart yesterday, Foreign Minister Tang
Jiaxuan said that war against terrorism must not be expanded
to other countries. What is your interpretation of
this?
A: I have stressed repeatedly
that military action against terrorism should have clear
targets and should be focused on terrorists. Care must be
taken to avoid harming innocent civilians and other
countries.
Q: In China’s
investigation into terrorism, has China found any evidence
to suggest that overseas terrorists are threatening
China?
A: We are opposed to all forms
of terrorist activities. Take the East Turkeystan terrorist
force for example. They not only conduct terrorist acts in
China’s Xinjiang, but also have links and collaborate
with overseas terrorist groups. They undoubtedly pose threat
to China.
Q: Does China think
that terrorism constitutes threat to the upcoming APEC
meetings to be held later this
month?
A: It is difficult for me to
tell where terrorist activities may take place. Incidents in
recent year, particularly the September 11 Incident, have
proven that terrorist activities could happen anywhere. As
for the upcoming APEC meetings, the Chinese police have
spared no efforts and adopted very strict security measures.
We will do all we can to ensure the success of the
meetings.
Q: How will China
deal with those Arab journalists who will come to China to
cover the upcoming APEC meetings?
A:
We will provide facilities to all participants of APEC
meetings and concerned personnel. We will treat all
participants and staff of the meetings as equals and
won’t treat them
differently.
Q: Please give us
more details about the China-US human rights dialogue. What
is the agenda? Which departments are concerned? Is this the
first time that human rights dialogue has been restarted and
for how long?
A: I can only tell you
briefly that the talks were held amid a candid and
constructive atmosphere. The two sides had a comprehensive
exchange of views on all issues related to human rights. It
is very difficult for me to touch each and every detail of
the dialogue. The dialogue will continue to be held. China
and the US reached an agreement about resuming human rights
dialogue this October during Secretary of State
Powell’s visit to China last July. This dialogue was
held as scheduled according to the agreement signed by the
foreign ministers of the two
countries.
Q: Yesterday, Taiwan
formally announced that it would send former “Vice
President” of Taiwan Li Yuancu to attend the APEC
informal leadership meeting. Did Taiwan consult with
Mainland about this prior to the announcement? Will Mainland
accept the proposal? The Foreign Ministry stressed that this
would be handled according to established practice.
According to established practice, the host country should
send an envoy to Taiwan to convey invitation to the APEC
meetings. Will the Mainland send an envoy to Taiwan for that
matter?
A: The MOU has clear
provisions about this. APEC has its own established practice
about this. We will handle relevant matters according to the
established practice and the
MOU.
Q: Has the Taiwan side
notified the Foreign Ministry that Li Yuancu will attend the
APEC informal leadership meeting? You said that the Mainland
would handle this according to the MOU. What are the
specific contents of the MOU? How will the mainland handle
the question of Chinese’s Taipei’s candidate to
the APEC meetings?
A: I have already
answered the question. You can refer to the MOU for detailed
contents. Its main contents are as follows: Taiwan is an
economic entity of APEC and only leaders from its economic
section can participate in the meeting. As the host country,
China has already sent invitation letters to Taiwan as other
countries have done and according to relevant established
practice. As to who can attend and which candidate does not
conform to the spirits of the MOU, we will handle these
questions according to established
practice.
Q: My question is
about illegal immigrants to the ROK. Where did they come
from? How did they get onboard the fishing boat? How come
their bodies were thrown overboard after they died? What has
been the response of the ROK side? What specific demands has
China made to the ROK side?
A: I
already answered this question put to me by journalists
yesterday. Maybe some of you have not heard about it. I
would like to brief you again today.
According
to information from the ROK police, 25 Chinese citizens,
stowaways en route to the ROK, were suffocated to death in
the freezing hold of a fishing boat and their bodies dumped
into the sea. The remaining 35 stowaways are alive and in
the custody of the ROK police. Captain of the boat, a ROK
citizen has been detained. The Chinese government pays great
attention to the case. The competent departments of the
Foreign Ministry promptly contacted the ROK side through
diplomatic channels to express China's concern over the
case, asking for an immediate and thorough investigation
into the case, the identities of the people concerned and
timely information about the progress. Up to now, the
identities of some of them are still unknown. Therefore, we
will continue to keep contacts with the ROK side. The
Chinese Embassy in the ROK has sent staff to the scene for
further information and to see the
survivors.
Judging from evidence we have
gathered, this is a case involving illegal immigration
organized by transnational criminals, which may involve both
criminals from China and the ROK. The Chinese government
expressed strong indignation and condemnation over the
criminals' inhuman behavior of having no regard for other
people's lives and dumping the corpses to cover up their
crime, and expressed regret to the dead and sent deep
condolences to their families. The Chinese government has
always opposed illegal immigration, taking strong actions
against all types of illegal immigration activities and
cooperating actively with related countries and
international organizations. China demands that the ROK side
should actively cooperate with China and carry out a
thorough investigation into the case severely punish the
perpetrators. The remaining problems of the incident are
still being addressed. We will release further developments
of the case after thorough investigations by both China and
the ROK.
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