We strongly deplore and oppose The Daily Telegraph report on February 5th entitled “Three Chinese spies posing as journalists expelled from the UK”.

China is committed to peaceful development, open and win-win cooperation, and common development and shared prosperity of all countries, the United Kingdom included. We will work with other countries to deliver a better future for all.

The UK is an important partner of China in Europe. China attaches importance to the China-UK relationship and never posed any threat to the UK. China and the UK have conducted cooperation in a wide range of fields on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and gained from the synergy of their respective strengths and from mutual learning. This has brought tangible benefit to the people of both countries.

Chinese journalists in the UK always abide by professional ethics and local laws. Their reporting is based on the principles of objectiveness, fairness, truthfulness and accuracy of facts, and they are playing a positive role in promoting communication and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries. The Telegraph report in question groundlessly vilifies normal China-UK exchange and cooperation, tarnishes the reputation and image of Chinese media and even plays up the so-called “Chinese threat”. It reveals a deep-seated worldview framed by the “Cold War” as well as a clear breach of the basic professional ethics of journalism.

It is time to discard the ideological prejudice against China, treat China-UK cooperation objectively and fairly, and do more things that are conducive to the China-UK relationship.

Zeng Rong

Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in the UK