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Q&A of the Spokesperson of the Embassy of China in Belgium on the Joint Statement of the European Side
2021-03-29 03:58

Q: Recently Speakers of the European Parliament, the Parliaments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Lithuania sent a joint statement to China on China’s sanctions on European parliamentarians. What is your comment?

A: We have noticed related reports. It must be made clear that it is the EU that has disregarded repeated representations from the Chinese side and imposed unilateral sanctions on Chinese personnel and entities. China only adopted counter-sanctions. The EU side believed in the one-sided lies and false information about Xinjiang. This is its first mistake. The EU insisted on imposing sanctions on China. This is the second mistake. Now the EU tries to shift the blame to China. Yet another mistake. Why is it that the EU could wilfully sanction China, but China cannot sanction Europe? Why is it that the EU could sanction Chinese NPC deputy, while China cannot sanction European parliamentarians? The European side’s “double standards” exposes its deep prejudice on Xinjiang-related matters. This old habit needs to be changed. China’s counter-sanctions have nothing to do with freedom of speech or parliamentary democracy. China does not accept related parliamentarians’ so-called “freedom” in spreading false information, slandering or interfering in other countries’ internal affairs. Parliamentarians of any country must act within the bounds of laws and international norms.

“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” If the EU would like to be respected, it needs to first start respecting others. We urge the EU to self-reflect, break from its wrongful approach of wilful sanctioning of other countries, and cease confrontation.

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