Q: Not long ago, New Zealand Prime Minister apologized to Chinese immigrants for the immigration policy of the government in the past. What's your comment on that?

A: From the end of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, New Zealand Government levied a discriminatory poll tax upon Chinese immigrants there. During the Chinese spring festival in the year of horse, New Zealand Prime Minister made a public apology to Chinese immigrants in New Zealand. We believe that this act is conducive to enhancing its social solidarity by encouraging Chinese immigrants to actively participate social and economic activities there. We wish to express our appreciation to that.


Q: This year, China will spend 25.2 billion RMB yuan more on defence, an increase of 17.6%. While the increase rate was 17.7% last year and 15.1% the year before last, which means that China  doubles its defence expenditure every five years. Will it accelerate arms race in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific?

A: I'd like to highlight one point with respect to your question. After doing careful mathematics, one cannot fail to take note that the cardinal figure of China's national expenditure is quite low. With the development of China's national economy and improvement of the lively-hood of the Chinese people in particular, it's quite natural for China to properly expand its national defence expenditure so as to raise the living standards of our people in uniform and ensure the modernization of the Chinese army. Although we have seen some increase of China's national defence expenditure, I wish to stress that, first, seen from the percentage of China's national defense in the overall national expenditure, it's been kept on a steady level with even some decrease. Second, China is the most populous country in the world with over 20,000 kilometers land borders and about 18,000 kilometers sea borders. Under such conditions, the absolute terms of China's military expenses and its percentage in GDP is still far less than major countries in the world. Take Japan as an example, its military expenditure of last year was 45 billion US dollars whileas that of China was only 16 billion US dollars. And its military expenditure this year is much higher than that of China.

Military expenditure is not the determining factor in deciding whether a country is a stablizing force  in the region or not. One has to see what kind of policy it adopts as well. It's known to all that China has always been a staunch force in maintaining peace and stability in Asia Pacific and the world at large.


Q: "Defense Minister" of Taiwan will leave for Florida this week  to attend the Taiwan-US military consultation, what's your comment?

A: China is deeply concerned over it and has made serious representation to the US. The U.S. has brazenly violated the One China Policy and the three Joint Communiques by allowing the so-called "Defense Minister" to visit the US. It will sent another wrong signal to the splitting forces in Taiwan and undermine China-US relations and relations across the Straits. China expresses here its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition.

China demands that the US must adhere to the One China Policy and the three  Joint Communiques and correct its erroneous decisions by putting and end to the official and military intercourses with Taiwan so as not to undermine development of China-US relationship.

With respect to the defence "summit meeting" on defense, we are resolutely opposed to it as well. We call on the US side to adhere to the One China Policy and the three Joint Communiques by cancelling the meeting.


Q: According to what you've said, the Chinese Government has protested and made representations to the US side on Tang's visit to the US, however, he will still make it. Will China take any measures to retaliate? If China fails to take any measures, Taiwan Authories sill send more of its political figures to visit other countries, for instance Japan and Great Britain. And given the frequent exchanges of visits between China and US, did the US side brief China through diplomatic channels on that beforehand? My second question is, on yesterday's press conference, Foreign Minster Tang talked about the "suspicious" ship in East Sea This morning, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda Yasuo  responded that according to Japanese understanding, China is not opposed to salvaging the sunken ship and Japna intends to get the ship out of the water. What's your comment?

A: On the question of the visit of Taiwan's "Defense Minister", I have already expounded on the solomn position of the Chinese Government. China has made solomn representations to the US side and demanded that the US side must stick to the One China Policy and the three Joint Communiques between China and the US, correct its erroneous decisions and put an end to the official and military intercourses with Taiwan so as to prevent China-US relations from being severely affected.

On the quesion of Taiwan's political figures visiting other countries, China has a clear-cut position for that. We are against any official exchanges and contact between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations with China. To properly handle the relations with Taiwan is a commitment made by every country having diplomatic ties with China. We ask them to honour their commitment so as to insure that development of bilateral ties can be free of disturbances.

Up to now I haven't seen any report of Fukuda Yasuo's statement. With respect to the "sunken ship", China has stated its position on many occasions. Foreign Minister Tang also took a clear stance on yesterday's press conference.


Q: It's reported that millions of used computers and other electronic waste have been transported from the US to China for recycling. What's the response of the Chinese Government? What steps will China take in prevent ing Guangdong and other cities of China from becoming the dumping places for the electronic waste and clearing up the waste?

A: I believe that you have that question after reading the report issued by a US environmental protection organization. The author of the report believes that there are some used computers from the US been recycled in China. He concludes that the US Government should take steps to prevent electronic waste computers from being transported outside. Up to this moment, I can not confirm that report but I would like to point out that China has a set of laws and regulations on customs and environment providing clearly guarantees for environment protection and people's health. These laws and regulations have been carried out fully and in accurate terms.


Q: Yesterday there was a program on CCTV on China's Foreign Policy of 2002. What kind of constuctive role will China play in promoting regional and world peace, stability and prosperity?

A: As a matter of fact, Foreign Minister Tang fully expounded on that on yesterday's press conference. China will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and play a positive role in international affairs as a just and responsible big state that promotes  peace.


Q: You mentioned here Tuesday that China and Russia will conduct consultations on strategic stability. Can you update us on the developments?

A: Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya held consultations with his Russian counterpart Mamedov on strategic stability. The two sides have an in-depth exchanges of views on present situation of global security, arms control, disarmament and other major international issues. The two sides reiterated that under the present circumstances it is of vital importance for world peace and security to keep intact international sysem of arms control and disarmament and maintain global strategic stability. They also agreed to maintain close consultations on the above-mentioned questions.


Q: I've got three questions. First, this morning, several foreign Falun Gong practicers were detained by policy for protesting in Tian'anmen Square. Can you give us more details about that? How will they be dealt with? Where are they from? Second, China has expressed strong dissatisfaction to the US on the high tarriff imposed upon imported steel. What kind of counter measures China will take in specific? Third, has  China adopted any new measures in dealing with GM products?

A: On the first question, I haven't had any specifc information with me up to this moment. But I have to point out that Falun Gong is an evil cult outlawed by the Chinese Government in accordance with law. Foreigners in China must abide by Chinese laws. Last year witnesses 8,900  million visits by people outside of China, 1,100 of which are from foreign land. I haven't heard any visitor taken away or detained by the police out of no reason. However, if someone tries to stir up troubles by conducting illegal activities with Falun Gong after obviously knowing that Falun Gong is an outlawed organization, he then breaks the law and will be dealt with by relevant departments of China.

On your second question, Spokesperson of MOFTEC expounded clearly on China's position and attitude yesterday. She said that US decision will have serious effect on the normal export of China's steel enterprises to the US, causing tremendous loss to them. The Chinese Government expressed its strong dissatisfaction to the US. China pointed out clearly at the launching of "201" that the problems US steel enterprises have at present are not attributable to foreign import. Moderate steel export of China to the US is far from enough to undermine or constitute any threat to US steel enterprises. The decision of the US Govenment doesn't comply with the rules of WTO and the Chinese Government reserves its right to resort to the dispute settlement mechanism of WTO.

With respect to GM products, starting from March 20, three supporting measures of the Ministry of Agriculture will be implemented. In short, they can be characterised as safety asessment, import and export approval and labeling of the GM products. These measures are made based on considerations of disputes and concerns of the GM products and reference to practices of quite a few countries for instance the European countries and they will leave the customers with more options and enable them to be well-informed. That is all I know up to now.