Thread by @AmbLiuXiaoMing

Glad to have given an interview on China-UK relations to Global Times @globaltimesnews, which was published on 17 August, 2020 in the newspaper and on the website. The full transcript of the interview is as follows: globaltimes.cn/content/119790…

Q: On UK's moves on BNO, Huawei&Hong Kong, what counter-measures will China take?
A: The UK Government, in disregard of China's solemn representations, is bent on carrying out political manipulation on the issues of BNO and the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.

A: The Chinese side strongly opposes such acts of the UK side which openly go against its own pledge, violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and blatantly interfere in Hong Kong affairs, which are internal affairs of China.

A: China will consider refusing to recognize BNO passports as valid travel documents and reserves the right to take further counter-measures.

A: On the issue of Huawei, the UK Government has contravened its previous decision and banned 5G equipment of Huawei, claiming the company poses “risks” without any evidence.

A: This went against the principles of market economy and rules of free trade, jeopardized China-UK mutual trust, undermined the confidence of Chinese businesses in making investments in the UK, and intoxicated the atmosphere for China-UK business cooperation.

A: The Chinese side will evaluate this decision comprehensively and seriously and take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.

A: China-UK relationship has encountered serious setbacks due to the above-mentioned wrong remarks and deeds of the UK side. I have emphasized time and again that China is a partner of the UK, rather than a rival, still less an enemy.

A: China’s development creates opportunities for the UK, rather than challenges, still less threats. A steady and sound China-UK relationship is in the interests of both the two countries and beyond.

A: I hope the UK side will return to an independent, reasonable and pragmatic China policy, and stop going down the wrong path. Otherwise, it will have to bear all the consequences.

Q: On BNO, will China revoke Chinese nationality or the right of abode in Hong Kong of the Hong Kong residents?
A: There are clear provisions in the Explanations of Some Questions by the Standing Committee of NPC Concerning Implementation of Nationality Law of P.R.China in HKSAR.

A: All Chinese compatriots residing in Hong Kong are Chinese nationals, whether or not they are holders of the British National (Overseas) passport.

A: In fact, as early as 1985 when the UK Government adopted the law to create the BNO status, it made the pledge that BNO passport holders who are Chinese citizens residing in Hong Kong shall not have the right of abode in the UK.

A: Now UK Government has gone back on its words&offered “a route for BNO passport holders to apply for citizenship in UK”. This decision is purely political manipulation&its real intention is to interfere in HK affairs&disrupt implementation of National Security Law for HKSAR.

A: The Chinese side strongly opposes this. We will consider refusing to recognize BNO passports as valid travel documents and reserve the right to take further counter-measures. Hong Kong has been returned to China and is now a special administrative region of China.

A:HK affairs are China’s internal affairs&brook no external interference in any form. We have urged UK side, time&again, to recognize fact that HK is part of China, immediately right the wrongs, &stop interfering in HK affairs in any form.Such interference will be self-defeating.

Q: What impact will UK suspending extradition treaty with Hong Kong have on China, including HK?
A: The unilateral suspension is a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs and severe violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations.

A: Chinese side strongly opposes this and reserves the right to take further counter-measures.The extradition treaty was signed between HKSAR, with authorization of Central Government of China, and UK side, and there has been effective cooperation on law enforcement all along.

A: The recent unilateral move of UK side will undermine the basis for judicial cooperation between HKSAR and the UK, hamper cooperation and exchanges between the two sides on law enforcement, and make the UK a “safe haven” for fugitives hoping to escape justice in Hong Kong.

A: I hope UK will have a right&objective understanding of National Security Law, right its wrongs, stop interfering in HK affairs, and take concrete actions to foster favorable conditions for the sustained&sound development of China-UK relationship.

Q: Do you think the China-UK “Golden Era” has come to an end? If not, do you think it is faced with grave challenges?
A: The China-UK “Golden Era” was proposed by the UK side during President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK in 2015.

A: China agreed with the UK and supported this initiative because we believed that it was an accurate depiction of the development stage of China-UK relationship and served the interests of both countries. Both sides then advance the “Golden Era” of their important relationship.

A: “Golden Era” should be based on mutual respect, equal treatment&mutual benefit. Both should respect each other’s core interests&major concerns&abide by the basic norm of non-interference in international relations. It is up to UK side whether “Golden Era” could continue.

Q: How do you see the future of China-UK relationship?
A: We feel deeply disappointed at the current difficulties and setbacks in China-UK relationship. The UK side should take full responsibility for the state this relationship has got into.

A: China-UK relationship is at an important juncture. The UK side should carefully reflect on its attitude and policy toward China. I think it is extremely important to uphold the following two principles.

A: The first principle is to abide by the basic norms governing international relations. The UK was the first major Western country to recognize New China 70 years ago. Since then, China-UK relationship has kept moving forward despite twists and turns.

A: History&facts prove that as long as the two sides adhere to the basic norms, including mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty&territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality&mutual benefit. China-UK relationship will make progress.

A: Otherwise, it will encounter setbacks, or even retrogression. Recently the UK has made one mistake after another on issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang, blatantly interfering in China’s internal affairs and discrediting China.

A: The Chinese side strongly opposes this. We urge the UK side to faithfully observe the basic norms governing international relations, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and stop flinging slanders at China.

A: The second principle is to have a right perception and strategic definition of China. Some British politicians have clung to the “Cold War” mindset and danced to the tune of the United States.

A: They see China as a challenge, a threat&even a “hostile state”, threaten a “reckoning” of UK’s China policy, &even clamour for a “new Cold War” against China. In particular,UK Government’s recent change of its decision on Huawei, excluding Huawei from its 5G network, is wrong.

A: #Huawei issue is not only about how UK sees a Chinese company. It is about how the UK sees&deals with China. Does it see China as an opportunity&a partner or a threat and a rival? Does it see China as a friendly country, or a “hostile” or “potentially hostile” state?

A: On these issues of right and wrong, the UK should have a right perception and accurate strategic definition. The UK aims to build a “global Britain” when Brexit is completed and Covid-19 is over, but it is hard to imagine a “global Britain” that bypasses or excludes China.

A: The UK needs to coordinate and cooperate with China on international and regional issues, such as safeguarding multilateralism, supporting free trade, addressing global challenges such as climate change.

A: The UK also needs to coordinate and cooperate with China on promoting the political settlement of hotspot issues such as the Iran nuclear issue, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and Syria.

A: The UK hopes to enhance mutual support with China in hosting COP26&COP15 respectively. The mainstream of the UK society, especially the business community, hopes to deepen cooperation with China. China&UK have highly complementary strengths and deeply integrated interests.

A: There is a huge demand for cooperation in the areas of economy&trade, financial services, education,science& technology. A steady&sound China-UK relationship is not only in the interests of the peoples of both China&UK, but also conducive to world peace and prosperity.

A: We hope that the UK will return to an independent, reasonable and pragmatic policy on China, and stop going down the wrong path.

Q: Should there be sanctions on UK businesses in China?
A: China remains committed to open&mutually-beneficial cooperation. We oppose politicizing economic issues&will continue to foster a fair, just, open&non-discriminatory business environment for foreign businesses.

A: We think it is wrong for certain countries to abuse the concept of national security, violate the rules in international trade and exclude or suppress other countries or individual companies, and we are strongly opposed to this.

A: Business cooperation between China and the UK is based on a sound bilateral relationship. There are close connections and mutual influence between business cooperation and bilateral relationship.

A: This is the reason why many people from the British business community have expressed their opposition to and concern over the recent words and deeds of the UK Government.

A: Recent years have seen remarkable progress in the financial cooperation between China and the UK, with London becoming the world’s largest RMB offshore trading centre and the second largest RMB offshore clearing centre.

A: The Shanghai-London Stock Connect links, for the first time, a Chinese & a major Western capital market. This bears great significance to both China & the UK. These achievements are not only reflections of the strength & status of London in international financial services.

A: They have also benefited from the close relations between China and the UK. A steady bilateral relationship provides a solid foundation and guarantee for sound development of China-UK financial cooperation.

A: Without this foundation, cooperation will be on shaky ground. It is our hope that the UK side will reflect on its recent remarks and moves with regard to China carefully and refrain from doing anything that undermines this very foundation.

Q:What’s role of US in recent change of UK’s policy towards China?
A:China-US relationship is at a critical juncture. China remains committed to working with US to develop a relationship featuring no conflict or confrontation,mutual respect&win-win cooperation.

A: At the same time, China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests. It is our hope that the US will head towards the same direction as China.

A: US should work with China to take vigorous efforts to implement the important agreements between the presidents of the two countries, and bring the bilateral relationship back on the track of coordination, cooperation and stability.

A: The steady and sustained development of China-US relationship serves the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries and meets the aspiration of the majority of the international community.

A: China and the US stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Cooperation is the only right way forward. Multilateralism and globalization are the overriding trend of our times and international cooperation is the common aspiration of people of the world.

A: Different sets of bilateral ties could exist and thrive side by side. It is bound to be unpopular for a certain country to cling to the “zero-sum” and “Cold War” mentality, form an exclusive coterie and force other countries to choose sides. This will not win people’s heart.

A: China has never sought to change or replace anyone. Nor has it asked other countries to choose sides between China and the United States. China is committed to mutual respect, equal treatment and mutual benefit.

A: It is our hope that the UK will stay independent in its foreign policy rather than dancing to the tune of the US. “Great Britain” cannot be “Great” without independent foreign policies.

Q: How will a UK-US FTA impact China-UK business interactions? Is it necessary to re-consider a China-UK FTA after Brexit?
A: I don’t think a US-UK FTA will have any impact on China-UK business relations.

A: China-UK trade and US-UK trade differ in development stage, structure and complementary strengths. China has strong manufacturing production capability, a complete system of industrial categories&a consumer market of 1.4 billion people - unique strengths unfound elsewhere.

A: Reaching FTAs with both China and US will benefit not only UK, but also China and US. The two agreements will not pitch China and US against each other nor make one’s gain the other’s loss.

A: The prospects of China-UK FTA depend to some extent on what policy UK adopts towards China. UK aims to build “global Britain” after Brexit, but Britain wouldn’t be “global” if it bypasses or excludes China, an important trading partner & opportunity for future development.

A: It’s our hope that UK will uphold the principles of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, resist disruptions from other countries, and work with China to build closer China-UK business ties in the new era.

Q: Is Sino-British Joint Declaration “legally-biding international treaty” whose implementation UK has “responsibility” to supervise?
A: This reflects ignorance of history. The core of the Joint Declaration is resumption of China’s exercise of sovereignty over HK.

A: The basic policies regarding HK in the Joint Declaration were proposed by China on our own initiative. They are not China’s commitments to UK or so-called international obligations.

A: China’s position on the Joint Declaration is consistent and clear. After the handover, the Chinese Government governs HKSAR in accordance with China’s Constitution and Basic Law of HKSAR, not the Joint Declaration.

A: All rights & obligations with regard to UK in the Joint Declaration have been fulfilled at the handover in 1997. The Joint Declaration has 8 paragraphs with a total of 1,137 words and three annexes, none of which gives UK any responsibility over HK after its handover.

A: UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of “supervision” over HK after its handover. Therefore, the UK side should not use the Joint Declaration as an excuse to make irresponsible remarks on HK and interfere in China’s internal affairs.

Q: Your comment on some’s proposal on establishing “Hong Kong parliament in exile” and China’s response if UK allows this?
A: It would be completely wrong if UK permits its establishment, and this will create a new and serious obstacle for China-UK relationship.

A: It would be an anti-China organization that attempts to undermine #OneCountryTwoSystems, divide China & seek “HK independence”. Allowing this to happen, UK would violate basic norms governing intl. relations, ie respect for other countries’ sovereignty&territorial integrity.

A: It will also damage China-UK mutual trust and undermine China-UK relationship. I have urged the UK side time and again not to be bent on challenging China’s sovereignty or supporting anti-China forces. Otherwise, China will make resolute response.

Q: Where does the wrong perception of UK politicians on Hong Kong come from?
A: The world has entered the 21st century, but some politicians from Western countries, including the UK, have left their head in the Cold War years, or even the colonial era.

A: They are locked in the Cold-War and colonial mindset, refuse to view China’s development from an objective and reasonable perspective and harbor anxiety and misgivings about China.

A: On the issue of Hong Kong, they do not want to recognize the fact that Hong Kong has been returned to China. Instead, they see themselves as the so-called “supervisor” and keep making irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs.

A: Recently, they hyped up “China threat”, calling China a “hostile” or “potentially hostile” state, threatening a complete “decoupling” from China, and even clamouring for a “new cold war” against China.

A: Such noises, although not representing the mainstream public opinion here in the UK, have created difficulties and disruptions to China-UK relationship.

A: I think this is due to two “deficits” in the UK’s current China policy, namely, the “understanding deficit” and the “trust deficit”. These are two of the root causes of the current difficulties in China-UK relationship.

A: China and the UK differ in history, culture, social system and development stage. It is natural the two countries do not always see eye to eye. The key to reducing these “deficits” lies in closer contact and communication between the two countries.

A: Only by advocating dialogue instead of confrontation, promoting closer links instead of decoupling, showing respect instead of clinging to Cold War mentality can China and UK enhance understanding, deepen mutual trust, manage and control differences and reduce the “deficits”.