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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 31, 2021

AFP: According to the latest news report, China's Politburo decided in a meeting today to allow families to have up to three children in future. Could you enlighten us on the purpose and motivation of this new policy?

Wang Wenbin: Please refer to competent authorities.

Bloomberg: US Customs and Border Protection on Friday said it will detain imports of seafood from Dalian Ocean Fishing after an investigation showed the company operated under all 11 of the International Labour Organization's indicators of forced labor. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: I have noted relevant reports. To our knowledge, the US Customs and Border Protection's claim of "forced labor, abuse of crew members and withholding of pay" is fabrication that is totally inconsistent with facts.

Dalian Ocean Fishing Company Limited has never sold any products to the US, and there's nothing to detain in the first place.

The so-called "forced labor" is completely groundless. So far as I know, the enterprise involved has always been law-abiding with strict and full-fledged management mechanism and a good reputation in the industry. Moreover, tuna fishing vessels normally enjoy high technical and modernization standards, and their operation are mostly automated, so there is no need for heavy manual labour.

The so-called "abuse of crew members" is totally unfounded. Last year saw some media hype-up of the issue; in response, the enterprise involved immediately checked with the Indonesian crew working on the ship, all of whom said they had never been treated unfairly, let alone abused.

Facts fully show that the allegation of "forced labor" is nothing but a lie concocted by the US side in an attempt to wantonly suppress Chinese enterprises. China firmly opposes such political manipulation, and calls on the US side to respect the basic facts and annul the wrong decision. China will take every measure necessary to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

Beijing Daily: According to Japanese media reports, three local agricultural cooperatives in Fukushima, Japan, passed a special resolution on Friday expressing opposition to the government's decision to release nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The resolution criticizes the authorities and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for breaching the previous agreement to not start any treatment of the contaminated water without the due understanding of the people concerned, as the government authorities failed to properly explain the matter to Japanese citizens as well as fishery workers. What is China's comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: I have noted relevant reports. This is another proof that the Japanese government, turning away from its commitments and acting in ways inconsistent with its words, is extremely irresponsible in handling the disposal of the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water.

Dumping the nuclear contaminated water cannot be the first option, still less should it be taken as the only option. China once again strongly urges Japan to take up its due responsibility for ecological safety and the health of all mankind, earnestly respond to the serious concerns of the international community, the neighboring countries and its own people, re-examine and revoke the wrong decisions, and voluntarily accept the substantive participation, verification and supervision of stakeholders and relevant international institutions. It must not start the discharge process before an agreement based on full consultation is reached with all stakeholders and relevant international institutions.

 

 

 

 

 

Prasar Bharati: As per media report, Wang Jingyu was wanted by China over his online comments about clashes near China-India border last year. He was arrested by Dubai police and was later released after weeks of detention. Can you please confirm if China was seeking his extradition for his online comments over clashes between Chinese and Indian forces last year? And do you have more details to share?

Wang Wenbin: I have noted relevant report. As we speak, competent Chinese authorities are investigating and handling the case in accordance with law.

China Review News: According to media reports, the Japanese government said the other day that it would study the possibility of providing vaccines to Taiwan, to which the Taiwan authorities expressed thanks. Earlier heads of the Red Cross Society branches in Chinese cities Fuzhou and Xiamen expressed readiness to donate vaccines to Jinmen and Mazu in the Taiwan region, but the Mainland Affairs Council declined the offer. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Recently many counties, cities and groups in the Taiwan region have been calling for early access to vaccines from the mainland and some institutions have announced that they will receive donations from the mainland. All this demonstrates the Taiwan people's confidence in mainland vaccines. We expressed on many occasions the readiness to do our best to help Taiwan compatriots fight the virus.However, the DPP authorities, proceeding from selfish political calculations, turned a blind eye to the goodwill of the mainland, and even resorted to malicious smears and various other means to thwart the shipment of vaccines from the mainland to the island. This is running roughshod over the life and health of our compatriots in Taiwan.

China always supports international cooperation in combating COVID-19 and has been taking active efforts in this regard. That being said, we are firmly against those who exploit the pandemic to put on political shows or even meddle in China's internal affairs. I've noticed that Japan can barely ensure adequate supply of vaccines at home. Under such circumstances, the Japanese government's announcement of considering providing vaccines to China's Taiwan region has drawn doubts from media and the public including in Taiwan. I would like to stress that vaccine assistance should be restored to its origin purpose, which is to save lives, and should not be reduced to a tool for selfish political gains.

CCTV: Lately some in the US and the UK have been renewing efforts to hype up the "lab leak theory". Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies program, said on May 28 that "We would like for everyone out there to separate, if they can, the politics of this issue from the science. This whole process is being poisoned by politics". Do you have a comment?

Wang Wenbin: Study of origins is a scientific issue that should not be politicized. Unfortunately, for some time, we have seen rhetoric and actions that stigmatize and label the virus, use study of origins to shift the blame to specific countries, wantonly criticize WHO experts on the study, and even draw on intelligence apparatus rather than rely on scientists to lead the study. These US acts which politicize origins study have gravely disrupted and undermined normal international cooperation in origins study and created difficulties and barriers for national efforts to fight the virus and save lives.

We stand for a scientists-led study of origins featuring solidarity and cooperation, not an intelligence-led investigation stoking confrontation and sowing division. The process should not be dictated by any country's will.

Upholding the principle of openness, transparency and cooperation, China has twice invited WHO experts in for joint study of origins. As the study of origins involve many countries and localities across the world, we call on other countries to follow our example and invite WHO experts in for similar studies to address international concerns. We urge a handful of countries including the US to immediately halt their politicization and stop sabotaging international cooperation in origins study for hidden political agenda.