China strongly condemns and firmly opposes European Union (EU)' slanderous statement on China's human rights situation, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
The statement on China's human rights situation issued by the EU delegation to China disregards the facts, distorts right and wrong, and is filled with lies and disinformation that maliciously slanders China's human rights situation, the spokesman said Guo.
"It constitutes a gross interference in China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty, and a serious violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes it, and has already made stern representations to the European side," the spokesman said.
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of human rights and has successfully embarked on a path of human rights development that conforms to the trend of the times and suits its own national conditions, he said.
"The historic achievements in China's human rights cause are facts acknowledged by anyone without prejudice," Guo said.
He noted that the matters related to Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong are China's internal affairs, and brook no interference from external forces.
China's Xinjiang and Xizang enjoy social stability, economic growth, ethnic unity and improved livelihoods. The practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has achieved universally recognized success, with residents of the special administrative region enjoying extensive rights and freedoms in accordance with the law, Guo said.
He said the Chinese Constitution fully guarantees citizens' freedom of speech and religious belief. China is a country governed by the rule of law, where everyone is equal before the law, and human rights can not be used as an excuse by some to evade legal punishment.
Guo strssed that the human rights situation in the EU has continued to deteriorate in recent years, with frequent occurrences of human rights violations such as racial discrimination, infringement on the rights of refugees and migrants, restrictions on freedom of speech, tolerance of religious hatred, judicial injustice, and violence against women.
"The EU turns a blind eye to its own problems while pointing fingers to other countries. Its hypocritical nature and double standards have long been exposed to the world. The EU is in no position to lecture other countries on human rights, much less to be a 'defender of human rights'. We strongly urge the EU to engage in serious self-reflection, respect the basic facts, and view the achievements of China's human rights cause objectively. It must stop its megaphone diplomacy, stop politicizing and instrumentalizing human rights issues, and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights," he added.
China condemns EU's slanderous statement on its human rights situation: spokesman
