- Title: Beijing lambasts US for considering travel restrictions on Chinese citizens
- Date: 16th July 2020
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 16, 2020) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN HUA CHUNYING ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN, HUA CHUNYING, SAYING: "In our opinion with regard to these comments from the U.S. side, we cannot verify whether they are true or not. You can follow up on this with the US authorities on that one. But if they are true, I think it is quite pathetic. The U.S., as the world's most powerful country, what else is left for them? What impression do they want to leave on the world? We hope the U.S. can refrain from doing these kinds of disrespectful things that undermine the basic norms governing international relations, and do not help the U.S. maintain its own appearance, reputation and position as a great power." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN, HUA CHUNYING, SAYING: "Pompeo said the reason he will implement this visa (policy) is regarding abuse of human rights. But just now I expressed myself very clearly. The U.S. is the biggest human rights abuser in the world. Its accusations in regards to the Xinjiang issue are the biggest lies of the century. They should be ashamed of such big lies made by their senior political officials." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN, HUA CHUNYING, SAYING: "If Mr. Pompeo is sincere (in his beliefs) we will not impose such visa restrictions on him. We would welcome him to come to Xinjiang, speak with all the different minorities in Xinjiang and see what the Xinjiang people think of him. I could introduce him to some Uighur friends." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN, HUA CHUNYING, SAYING: "We think there is no reason to end this journey (of China-U.S. relations), we still hope that those U.S. policy makers can return to reason and can have a responsible attitude, be responsible to their own country, be responsible towards China-U.S. relations and be responsible to global peace and development, and more reasonably and objectively view the China-U.S. relationship." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN, HUA CHUNYING, SAYING: "Current U.S. policy towards China is a strategic mistake based on a lack of truth and evidence, venting emotions, and McCarthyist bias. China doesn't want to stir up trouble with the U.S. But the US side's unjustified suspicions about China have already reached a stage where every tree or bush is an enemy soldier." EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG
- Embargoed: 30th July 2020 10:38
- Keywords: CCP Chinese Communist Party Huawei New York Times Pompeo US-China relations Visa Xinjiang
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CN24ZT3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:China on Thursday (July 16) called it "pathetic" that if the U.S. is truly considering a travel ban on all members of China's ruling Communist Party, as reported by the New York Times.
During a regular news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying also invited U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to come to China and visit the western Xinjiang region to see that there are no human rights violations, responding to Washington's sanctions and accusations of wrongdoing against the Uighur Muslim minorities who live there.
Hua also dismissed Washington's accusations of human rights crimes against the Uighur minorities as the "biggest lies of the century".
Relations between Beijing and Washington are at the worst in decades as they clash on multiple fronts including China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, the new national security law in Hong Kong, trade and the accusations of human rights crimes in Xinjiang.
Washington on Tuesday (July 14) removed special status designation for Hong Kong and imposed sanctions against top Chinese officials and companies over Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Beijing condemned the moves and vowed to retaliate.
(Production: Martin Pollard, Wang Shubing) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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