(24 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing, China – 24 April 2024
1. News conference
2. Wide of reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"Recently, the European Union has frequently resorted to its economic and trade toolbox and trade remedy measures, sending a signal of protectionism targeting Chinese companies and harming the image of the EU. The EU has always touted itself as the most open market worldwide, but what we see now is that it is gradually moving towards protectionism."
4. Reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"We urge the EU to adhere to its commitment to the open market and the principle of fair competition, abide by WTO rules, and stop unwarrantedly suppressing and restricting Chinese companies on various pretexts."
6. Mid of reporter
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"China has always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, win-win cooperation, equality, and non-interference in internal affairs in developing relations with European countries. We urge relevant parties to stop making groundless accusations and slandering China."
8. Mid of reporter
9. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
"My colleagues and I, as well as the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, have made clear China’s principled position on the U.S. legislation related to TikTok before. You can refer to that."
10. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
China on Wednesday called on the European Union to stop "suppressing" Chinese companies, after the 27-nation bloc launched an investigation into China’s medical device procurement.
The nine-month investigation was prompted by concerns about Chinese policies that unfairly favor its own suppliers.
The EU could block Chinese companies’ access to Europe’s medical device market if they find unfair behavior by China, according to media reports.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused the EU of "sending a signal of protectionism targeting Chinese companies and harming the image" of the bloc.
The EU has already launched investigations into Chinese solar panel makers and Chinese EVs for unfair subsidies.
The enforcement agencies authorized by the EU raided a Chinese company’s offices in Poland and Netherlands on Tuesday, as part of the investigation into whether the company received subsidies.
Wang said China always adhered "to the principle of mutual respect" and he urged relevant parties to "stop making groundless accusations and slandering China."
Wang also declined to comment on legislation that the U.S. Senate passed that would force the social media app TikTok to either split from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or to be removed from the U.S. market.
AP video shot by Liu Zheng
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