Question: The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published a report which suggests that the UK government should characterise China as a “threat”. It claims that the UK’s policy is acknowledgment of the PRC’s “One China Policy” rather than acceptance of it and calls for the government to reduce dependence on China. What’s your response?
Embassy Spokesperson: The above-mentioned report distorts facts, misleads the public, and is extremely irresponsible. China firmly opposes it.
China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. China’s development does not pose a threat to any country and will only bring opportunities for common development to all countries. We have no intention or need to interfere in the internal affairs of or threaten the UK. Those who keep peddling the “threat of China” and clamour for containing China are either doing it out of their arrogance and prejudice, or out of their ignorance and delusion about China and the world.
There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’ territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is the universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm of international relations, which should not be distorted by anyone. It is also the political foundation and important prerequisite for the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and the UK. This red line cannot be crossed.
Only by following the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit can China-UK relations develop smoothly. Any attempt to seek China’s cooperation while at the same time undermining China’s interests is wishful thinking and will never succeed.
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