On January 6, 2020, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang held a regular press conference.
Q: The current contradiction between the United States and Iraq has escalated. The United States said that if Iran attacks any American citizens or assets, it will strike against 52 Iranian targets. According to the Iranian side, about 35 targets of the United States in the region are within the scope of Iraq’s attack. How does China view the current state of affairs?
A: China is highly concerned about the current situation in the Middle East. No one wants to see the situation in the Middle East Gulf deteriorate further. Ensuring peace and stability in this region is of vital importance to the whole world.
Power politics is unpopular and unsustainable. The recent military adventures of the United States violate the basic norms of international relations and aggravate the tension and turmoil in the regional situation. China has always opposed the use of force in international relations. There is no way out by military means, and extreme pressure simply won’t work.
China maintains that all parties should earnestly abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the basic norms governing international relations, that the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, and that peace and stability in the Middle East Gulf region should be maintained. We urge the United States not to abuse force, and call on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid escalating the situation in turn, return to the track of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible, and promote the cooling of tensions.
China will continue to uphold an objective and fair stance and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and security in the Middle East Gulf region.
Q: Follow up a question about Iraq and the United States. The Iraqi National Assembly passed a resolution demanding that the government end the presence of foreign troops in Iraq. On Sunday, US President Trump said that he would impose severe sanctions on Iraq. He said in Twitter, "If we don’t leave on a friendly basis, we will impose unprecedented sanctions on them." What is China’s comment on this?
A: We have seen relevant reports. China has always believed that when dealing with state relations, it should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations. China has always opposed the use or threat of sanctions in international relations, and even more opposed the imposition of unilateral sanctions on a country. We have always maintained that Iraq’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity should be earnestly safeguarded. We hope that the countries concerned, especially the big countries outside the region, can do more to promote peace and stability in the Middle East and avoid taking measures that may escalate the regional situation.
Q: On Sunday, Iran announced the latest measures to reduce its commitment to the comprehensive Iranian nuclear agreement. Is China worried about this? Who do you think is responsible for this? Iran or America?
A: China has taken note of Iran’s announcement to reduce the implementation of the comprehensive Iranian nuclear agreement in the fifth phase. It has also taken note of Iran’s statement that this is the last time to reduce its implementation. Iran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and resume its implementation under certain conditions. We believe that although Iran was forced to reduce its performance due to external factors, it also showed restraint and clearly expressed its political will to implement the comprehensive agreement completely and effectively, and did not violate its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
At present, the complexity of the situation in the Middle East is rising, and the comprehensive agreement is facing severe challenges. The unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the comprehensive agreement, ignoring international law and obligations, exerting extreme pressure on Iran and obstructing other parties’ performance are the root causes of the Iranian nuclear tension and should also be the basic starting point for all parties to handle the Iranian nuclear issue objectively and fairly. All participants in the comprehensive agreement should remain calm and rational, adhere to the correct direction of political and diplomatic settlement, persist in resolving differences in performance through consultation within the framework of the Joint Committee of the Comprehensive Agreement, eliminate interference, avoid taking any measures that may further complicate the situation, and fully safeguard the comprehensive agreement.
Finally, I want to emphasize that the comprehensive agreement is hard-won, an important achievement of multilateral diplomacy approved by the Security Council resolution, an important support for the international nuclear non-proliferation system and peace and stability in the Middle East, and an important part of the international order based on international law. The international community should proceed from the long-term and overall situation, firmly safeguard the comprehensive agreement, and promote the easing of the situation in the Iranian nuclear issue and the Middle East. China will continue to maintain close communication and coordination with relevant parties and make unremitting efforts to this end.
Q: A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that Iran has written to the UN Security Council about the death of Soleimani. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that it has taken various political and legal measures, including at the level of the Security Council. Does China think this matter should be discussed in the Security Council?
A: China has noticed that the Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations has written to the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The military adventure of the United States violates the basic norms of international relations and intensifies the tension and turmoil in the regional situation. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and should earnestly shoulder the responsibilities entrusted by the Charter of the United Nations. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China will continue to uphold an objective and fair stance and work with relevant parties to jointly safeguard international law and international fairness and justice and safeguard peace and security in the Middle East Gulf region.
Q: Against the background of increasing tension between the United States and Iraq, will China increase its security presence in the Middle East?
A: I have just said this when answering questions from other reporters. China is highly concerned about the current situation in the Middle East. The further deterioration of the situation in the Middle East Gulf region is not in the interest of either side. Ensuring peace and stability in this region is of vital importance to the whole world.
China has always opposed the abuse of force in international relations. We call on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid escalating the situation in turn, return to the track of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible, and promote the cooling of tensions.
China will continue to uphold an objective and fair stance and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and security in the Middle East Gulf region.
