(18 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing – 18 April 2024
1. Wide of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian speaking
2. Wide of reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“We noted the relevant report and expressed grave concerns about the move. China has consistently and firmly opposed the U.S.’ pursuit of unilateral military advantage, deployment of medium-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthening of forward deployment at China’s doorstep. Such actions by the U.S. escalate regional tensions and increase the risk of misunderstandings and miscalculations.”
4. Wide of reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“We urge the US to earnestly respect the security concerns of other countries, stop stoking military confrontations, stop undermining regional peace and stability, and take concrete actions to reduce strategic risks. The Philippine side should be fully aware of the true intention of the U.S. move and the serious consequences of catering to the US, avoid being a cat’s paw of the U.S. at the expense of its own security interest and not go further down the wrong path.”
6. Wide of reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“We consistently demand that the U.S. earnestly respect the principle of fair competition, abide by WTO rules, and immediately cease its trade protectionist measures against China. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
8. Reporters
9. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
“China has been upholding the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs and supporting the Solomon Islands people in choosing the development path that fits their national condition independently. China and the Solomon Islands are comprehensive strategic partners pursuing common development in the new era. It is in the interest of both sides to promote a steady and sound development of bilateral relations.”
10. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
China on Thursday expressed “grave concerns” over the U.S. Army Pacific’s deployment of a medium-range missile launcher in the region for the first time as part of joint drills with the Philippines beginning next week.
The system deployed on the northern Philippine island of Luzon, known as the Typhon Weapon System, put mainland China and Taiwan in striking distance.
It is the first time that such a weapon system has been deployed in the Pacific since the 1987 US-Soviet Union Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty prohibited the development and possession of land-based missiles ranging from 500km to 5,500km, according to media reports.
“China has consistently and firmly opposed the U.S.’ pursuit of unilateral military advantage, deployment of medium-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthening of forward deployment at China’s doorstep,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily news briefing in Beijing.
“Such actions by the U.S. escalate regional tensions and increase the risk of misunderstandings and miscalculations,” Lin warned, urging the U.S. to “take concrete actions to reduce strategic risks.”
Lin also asked the Philippines to be “fully aware of the true intention of the U.S. move and the serious consequences of catering to the US, avoid being a cat’s paw of the U.S. at the expense of its own security interest and not go further down the wrong path.”
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