(22 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing – 22 April 2025
1. Wide of news conference
2. Wide of reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Guo Jiakun, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“China expresses condolences over the passing of Pope Francis. In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive engagement and conducted useful exchanges. China is ready to work with the Vatican side to continue the improvement of China-Vatican ties.”
4. Wide of reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Guo Jiakun, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“The provisional agreement regarding the appointment of bishops between China and the Vatican has been smoothly implemented. China stands ready to work with the Vatican side to continue the improvement of China-Vatican ties.”
6. Mid of reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Guo Jiakun, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“Engagement with the Taiwan region violates the ‘One China’ principle. We see more and more countries are now recognizing and upholding the ‘One China’ principle. We also hope to see that the relevant side can have a clear understanding of the trend of history and return to the consensus of upholding the ‘One China’ principle.”
8. Mid of reporters
9. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
China on Tuesday expressed condolences over the death of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis reached out to Beijing in an effort to improve relations and mend a seven-decade rift between a state-recognized Catholic church and an underground church loyal to Rome.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Tuesday that “China is ready to work with the Vatican side to continue the improvement of China-Vatican ties.”
China’s Catholic community was divided when the Communist Party came to power and claimed the right to name bishops without consulting the Vatican.
In 2018 Francis’ Vatican brokered a deal with China that granted Rome’s approval to the bishops Beijing had picked. The provisional agreement was renewed in October 2024.
“The provisional agreement regarding the appointment of bishops between China and the Vatican has been smoothly implemented,” Guo said when asked about the progress of the agreement’s implementation.
The Holy See maintains a diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, which China long regards as part of its territory and threatens to annex with force if necessary.
Asked about the close contact between the Taiwan authority and Pope Francis in his papacy, Guo said China hoped “the relevant side can have a clear understanding of the trend of history and return to the consensus of upholding the ‘One China’ principle.”
At the briefing, Lin refused to confirm whether Beijing was invited to the Pope’s funeral or planned to send an envoy, saying only that he had “no information” on that.
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