Q: Japan is likely to sell Australia a fleet of submarines in the near future. What is China's comment on this?
A: Exchanges and cooperation in military and security fields between Japan and Australia should be conducive to peace and stability of this region.
Q: The Foreign Affairs Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) wrote to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK House of Commons asking it to stop discussing or interfering in Hong Kong's political reform, while the Chinese Ambassador to the UK also sent a similar message to the British side. Can you confirm that? Any comment on what some of the British MPs said about Hong Kong's political reform?
A: Hong Kong has returned to the motherland. It is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong's political reform belongs to the internal affairs of Hong Kong SAR and the domestic affairs of China which brooks no interference from external forces. The NPC's Foreign Affairs Committee did write a letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK House of Commons. The context of that is that the British Foreign Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Therefore, China reached out to the UK to make our solemn position clear, which is absolutely appropriate and justified. The Chinese Ambassador to the UK who clarified our position on this to the British is also fulfilling his obligations as a diplomatic envoy sent out by the People's Republic of China.
Q: The US Chamber of Commerce said that China is targeting foreign companies in its anti-monopoly investigations with opaque laws and regulations, contributing to deteriorating investment environment for foreign companies. What is China's comment on this?
A: I have learned that the US Chamber of Commerce published such a report. I want to stress that China is not the only country carrying out anti-monopoly. Other countries also do it. Monopoly is opposed so as to protect consumers' interests and create a more transparent, equal and just playing field. While carrying out anti-monopoly investigations and implementing relevant measures, relevant departments of China are strictly following the law in a transparent and impartial way.
China will,as always, encourage foreign companies and enterprises to take part in the competition in China's market and carry out various forms of cooperation. We are willing to create a sound investment environment for them. Meanwhile, they are also required to abide by Chinese laws and regulations.
