African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf refuted smears on China-Africa cooperation in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) aired on Friday.
In the interview, Youssouf emphasized China's long-standing assistance to African countries and said that various smears on China-Africa relations are nonsense.
"They are wrong. They are wrong because when others were not interested in developing the infrastructure on the continent, assisting the African continent on very important sectors, China took the step forward and helped us. So all the criticism around China, (such as) creating a backyard for itself on the continent or putting African countries on a debt trap, that's their words, and also creating a new kind of hegemonic policy, hegemonic relationship on the African continent. We don't believe in that. We believe we are judging from deeds and what China is doing for the continent. So, these deeds, actions, activities, achievements, speak for themselves. We don't need to give more explanation," he said.
AU Commission chief refutes smears on China-Africa relations
The United States' threats to acquire Greenland have met strong opposition among locals on the island, and some Greenlandic residents described the U.S. attempt as utterly ridiculous.
"I don't like it at all. I think it is preposterous. We are free people, and we don't wish to become a part of the United States. So I think it's a very bad proposal," said Greenlandic writer Kelly Berthelsen.
"I think they are lying. They don't want to make us a state. Because I think they will make us a smaller area that doesn't have the same status as a state," said Alibak Hard, a flight coordinator at a Greenland-based helicopter company.
Greenland has a self-governing government within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining authority over its defense and foreign policies. The United States maintains a military base on the island.
Since returning to the White House in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a strong desire to "obtain" Greenland by any means. On Friday, he even threatened to impose tariffs on countries that do not support his Greenland plan.
On January 12, Randy Fine, a Republican congressman from Florida, proposed a bill authorizing Trump to take all necessary measures to annex Greenland and eventually make it "officially a state of the United States."
Locals strongly oppose U.S. threats to seize Greenland
