Asia

Beijing rejects western media reports over safely in China

Beijing refuted rumors spread by western Countries and media over quote dangers threatening foreign travelers visiting China. The allegations come as China has recently freed two Canadians after the U.S. struck a deal for the release of Huawei’s chief financial officer.

Beijing has dismissed “rumors” that Westerners are not safe in China and that they may be used as hostages in future diplomatic disputes, after two Canadians were released as Ottawa dropped charges against Huawei’s CFO.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying hit back at the Western media and several “absurd rumors” after she was asked whether China had set a precedent by releasing two Canadians who were allegedly held as hostages, after Ottawa dropped charges against Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. 

“It is exactly the same as the absurd rumors that some people in the United States and the West are accustomed to making, inciting appalling rumors on China-related issues,” Hua told gathered media at a daily press conference.

She contended the West and its media were simply trying to stir up negative feelings and slander China. The spokeswoman claimed that foreigners were indeed safe in China and that one must remember that Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were criminals. They had written confessions and even repented, she added.

The two men had been arrested on accusations of espionage on December 10, 2018, just nine days after Huawei CFO’s detention in Canada. Ottawa claimed the moves were retaliatory for the detention of Meng. Both men were sent back to Canada after Meng was released last week. 

Focusing on the US, Hua contended that everyone is aware that Washington is the inventor of hostage diplomacy, and such practices were below Beijing. “Through its own policies and actions, the United States has provided the world with many classic cases of coercive diplomacy,” she added.

The spokeswoman also pointed to the case of Frédéric Pierucci, a former executive of French multinational Alstom, who was detained in the US, accused of corruption. Pierucci contended he was an “economic hostage” as his arrest came at a time when US giant General Electric was negotiating the purchase of Alstom’s energy section. 

On Friday, Meng, who was arrested in Canada on a US warrant in 2018, left North America in a deal with US prosecutors. She was being held in Canada awaiting extradition to the US amid accusations she conspired to violate US trade sanctions with Iran.

Beijing frequently contended the move was an attempt to maintain US hegemony in the technology sector.

Spavor and Kovrig were released from China just hours later.

Source: RT

IFP Media Wire

Reports and views published in the Media Wire section have been retrieved from other news agencies and websites, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website. The IFP may change the headlines of the reports in a bid to make them compatible with its own style of covering Iran News, and does not make any changes to the content. The source and URL of all reports and news stories are mentioned at the bottom of each article.

Recent Posts

Iran signs key agreements during communications minister’s visit to Cuba, Venezuela

Iran’s Minister of Communications Sattar Hashemi has recently concluded a "productive" six-day trip to Cuba…

1 hour ago

Iran’s president says no matter who has won the US  vote

The Iranian President, in his first reaction to Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential…

1 hour ago

Iraq’s FM denies reports Iran planning attack on Israel from Iraqi territory

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has dismissed reports suggesting that Iran is planning a retaliatory…

4 hours ago

Iran’s Zarif hopes Trump to terminate conflicts as promised during campaign

The strategic deputy to Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has reacted to Donald Trump’s return to…

4 hours ago

Israeli Parliament passes law to deport families of Palestinians involved in attacks against settlers

The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) passed a new controversial law Thursday that allows the deportation of…

18 hours ago

Trump’s team seeks postponing Ukraine’s NATO membership for at least 2 decades: Report

One idea within US President-elect Donald Trump's team for ending Russia's war involves delaying Ukraine's…

18 hours ago