Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian Photo: VCG

Responding to media inquiries about recent remarks by certain European leader at the Shangri-La Dialogue which compared the Taiwan question with the Ukraine crisis, hinted at a "China threat" in the South China Sea, and suggested NATO has grounds to intervene in the Asia-Pacific, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that China firmly opposes such remarks.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, bearing no comparison with the Ukraine crisis, Lin stated. "We resolutely oppose any attempt to distort or misrepresent the nature of the Taiwan question. We urge relevant parties to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Regarding the South China Sea issue, Lin noted that the situation remains generally stable and that there are no issues with freedom of navigation or overflight in accordance with international law. He stressed that China consistently seeks to resolve maritime disputes with directly concerned parties through dialogue and negotiation based on historical facts. Countries outside the region should respect the efforts made by regional states to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, rather than stirring up tensions or creating disputes, Lin added.

Lin emphasized that NATO is a regional and defensive military organization with no right to breach its geographical limits or expand its authority. "China firmly opposes NATO's eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific, its creation of tensions, and instigation of confrontation, which undermine peace and stability in the region and beyond. Asia-Pacific countries do not welcome NATO's presence, nor does the region need an 'Asia-Pacific version of NATO,'" he said.

"I want to stress that Asia is a shared home for China and other Asian countries," Lin said. Thanks to the joint efforts of regional countries, Asia has achieved rapid development in recent years and become a beacon of global growth and a haven of peaceful development. China pursues a neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, and firmly opposes bloc confrontation, Lin stated, adding that China does not seek any so-called sphere of influence. Relevant parties should abandon Cold-War thinking and refrain from sowing discord among Asia-Pacific nations.

Global Times