Q: According to media reports, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said recently that the visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, is no reason for China to overreact or threaten Taiwan. What is your comment?  

The cause of the tensions in the Taiwan Strait is crystal clear, so is the difference between right and wrong. In disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations, Pelosi went ahead with the visit to China’s Taiwan region, seriously violating the one-China principle, infringing on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and trampling on the basic norms of international relations. It aroused strong indignation among the Chinese people and sparked widespread opposition from the international community. The countermeasures taken by China are necessary as a step to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, regional peace and stability as well as international law and basic norms in international relations. In this sense, China’s measures are justified, necessary and proportionate. This is not overreaction at all.  

It is the United States that stirred up the trouble; it is the United States that created the crisis; and it is also the United States that kept escalating tensions. The US, as the provocateur and the one that caused the crisis, should and must take full responsibility. The US made a malicious provocation first, and China has been compelled to act in self-defense. In his remarks, NATO Secretary General reversed black and white, confused right and wrong, defended blatantly the perpetrator and pressured those who try to defend their rights. It fully reveals the use of might and bullyism, hypocrisy and ugliness of NATO, the Cold War remnant and the world’s largest military alliance.  

Either today or historically, the US-led NATO is the epitome of those who launch wars, create conflicts and bring troubles to the world. The Chinese people will never forget the blood debt owed by NATO, and will never allow an international law-breaker to dictate China's internal affairs. We refuse to be treated like Iraq, Syria, or Afghanistan. Anyone who attempts to undermine and challenge China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be met with a firm response by the 1.4 billion Chinese people.