Q: US Ambassador to Germany Grenell said in a statement on November 25 that "there is no moral equivalence between China and the US" and that equating the US government to the Communist Party of China is an insult to the US and Chinese citizens. Would you like to comment on this?
A: Every once in a while some US politicians or officials would jump on stage with a clumsy show to discredit China, which only exposes their malicious calculations and political agenda.
There indeed is no moral equivalence between China and the US. In the international community, China always upholds peace, development and justice while the self-centered US pursues selfish gains at the expense of others and walks away from commitments. Its motto seems to be that whoever stands with it shall prosper and whoever doesn't shall perish.
First, China upholds world peace. Committed to peaceful development, China contributes wisdom and efforts to maintaining world peace and stability. By the end of last year, China has contributed nearly 40,000 UN peace-keeping personnel, outnumbering other permanent members of the Security Council. In international relations, committed to the principle of mutual respect and non-interference in others' internal affairs, we play a constructive role in facilitating the resolution through dialogue and consultation of hotspots like the Korean Peninsula issue, the Iranian nuclear issue, the Afghanistan issue and the Rakhine State issue. With constructive efforts, China has increasingly become a source of stability and confidence for world peace.
What about the US? Well, it is a creator of unrest and turmoil. The warfare it started in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria has left the people there with wounds that will never heal. Among its stark interference in other countries' internal affairs, the US pulled the strings for the "Arab Spring" in the Asian-African region, directed "color revolutions" in Eurasian countries, and hatched "peaceful evolutions" all over the world. It has become the world's top source of instability.
How can there be any equivalence between such a country and China?
Second, China contributes to global development. Through opening-up and win-win cooperation, we share opportunities brought by domestic development with the rest of the world. China is a staunch defender of the WTO-centered multilateral trading regime and is committed to building an open world economy. As the world's second largest economy, China has been contributing as much as 34% to world GDP growth for ten consecutive years. Over the past 70 years, we have provided nearly 400 billion yuan in assistance to 166 countries and international organizations and helped more than 120 developing countries to the best of our capabilities. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed six years ago has received the recognition and active participation of the international community. With fruitful early harvests, it has become the world's most popular public good and largest platform for economic cooperation.
What about the US? It is a complete bully. Holding high the banner of "America first", it is only thinking about taking advantage of others. In trade with other countries, it raises tariffs whenever it pleases. In the international financial system, it abuses the monopoly status of the US dollar while imposing unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction at every turn. It even uses national power to oppress certain countries and businesses with trumped-up charges. While reluctant to invest in other countries, the US uses every means to sabotage their cooperation with China.
How can there be any equivalence between such a country and China?
Third, China upholds international order. We champion multilateralism, defend the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, and endeavor to build a community with a shared future for mankind. We have joined more than 100 inter-governmental international organizations and signed more than 500 multilateral treaties. China has made significant contributions to the conclusion and implementation of the Paris Agreement. We always submit our UN contributions on time and in full to support its role in promoting peace and development. We work actively towards the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The G20 Hangzhou Summit adds development to the global macro policy coordination framework for the first time, a move applauded by developing countries.
What about the US? It is a spoiler in global governance. From 2017, walking away from its responsibilities and obligations, the US withdrew from UNESCO, the UNHRC, the Paris Agreement, the JCPOA and the INF Treaty. The list goes on. Turning a blind eye to the prevalent and grave human rights violations at home, the US keeps criticizing other countries' human rights conditions, despite the fact that it is not party to important human rights instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. It sends warships to flex muscles at others' doorsteps in the name of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea despite the fact that it has not ratified the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. It has long been stalling payment of UN contributions to the amount of 1.055 billion US dollars, putting the UN into a financial crisis. During this year's UNGA, it even openly boasted nationalism and denounced globalization.
How can there be any equivalence between such a country and China?
I need to point out that Mr. Grenell's attempt to drive a wedge between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people is deeply sinister. Since the People's Republic of China was founded 70 years ago, the CPC has led the Chinese people in making historic leaps from finding their feet to becoming prosperous and strong. The CPC has the full support of the Chinese people. According to US poll results, Chinese people's trust in their government ranks top in the world. People's endorsement speaks volumes. Failure is the only end for any political attempt to negate China's socialist system and drive a wedge between the CPC and the Chinese people.
Lastly, here is my advice to Mr. Grenell and some other American politicians: know yourself. You really need to devote more efforts in solving America's problems at home and give up bias, stubbornness and anti-China gibberish. Like we always say, don't overestimate your rumors or underestimate others' judgment. Lies, though repeated a thousand times, are still lies.