BEIJING: The cases of Assange and Snowden have long since exposed that so-called freedom of the press is merely a tool for these countries to attack and smear other nations, and when it comes to their own interests, they absolutely do not care about press freedom, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.
“Certain countries, under the guise of the so-called Media Freedom Coalition, are slandering Hong Kong’s freedom of the press and attacking the HKSAR government’s lawful enforcement efforts, backing anti-China and Hong Kong disruptors like Jimmy Lai, toward which China strongly disapproved of and firmly opposed,” said Wang Wenbin.
Some countries including the UK and the US recently issued a statement in the name of the Media Freedom Coalition, accusing the Chinese central government and the HKSAR government of using the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong to suppress journalism, and urging China to adhere to its international human rights commitments and legal obligations.
Their meddling in Hong Kong affairs under the pretext of freedom of the press is nothing but a display of their reluctance to accept Hong Kong’s thriving development and an attempt to prolong their past privileges and influence in Hong Kong, which are in vain, the spokesperson said.
Hong Kong is a society governed by law, where laws are strictly followed and violations rigorously pursued. Since the implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong, Hong Kong society has transitioned from chaos to governance, and from well governed to prosperity.
The rule of law and justice have been upheld, and the various legal rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents, including those of news and speech, are better safeguarded under a secure, stable, and legal environment.
The number of international media outlets and journalists in Hong Kong has increased rather than decreased since the implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong, a fact undeniable to anyone without bias, he said.
In recent years, over a hundred countries have continuously voiced their support for China on various multilateral human rights platforms, including the UN Third Committee and the Human Rights Council, on issues related to Hong Kong. This fully demonstrates that justice is in the hearts of the majority, the spokesperson said.
We urge the relevant countries to face the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China, abandon their colonial mindset, and realize that their attempts to meddle in Hong Kong affairs under the guise of freedom of the press are doomed to fail, Wang added.
Efforts urged for promoting peaceful, integrated development of cross-Straits relations
Zhang Zhijun, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, has called for more efforts to promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Straits relations.
Zhang made the remarks in a New Year’s message published in the first issue of the “Relations Across Taiwan Straits” magazine in 2024.
No matter how the international landscape may evolve, the mainland will remain unwavering in its resolve to advance the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Straits relations, Zhang said.
The mainland will not change its original aspiration for promoting cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation as well as improving Taiwan compatriots’ interests and well-being, nor will it change its bottom line of adhering to the one-China principle and opposing “Taiwan independence” and external interference, he said.
Noting that the upcoming elections in the Taiwan region are a crucial choice between peace and war, and between prosperity and recession, Zhang called on Taiwan compatriots to stand on the right side of history and work towards the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.
This year, the association will work together with Taiwan compatriots to contribute to promoting the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Straits relations and the cause of national reunification, Zhang said.
