On June 18, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao announced the upcoming visits to China respectively by President Askar Akayev of the Republic of Kyrghyz, Prime Minister Adrian Nastase of Romania, Vice Prime Minister Karim Massimov of the Republic of Kazahkastan, Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda of the United States of Mexico and Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzijia of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Q: It has been learnt that the Chinese side has approved Japan’s salvage of the sunken ship in the East China Sea. Please confirm that.

A: In early June, the Japanese side proposed to salvage the ship. After that, the two sides have held many rounds of negotiations on this issue. Japan recognized China’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, went through necessary procedures according to law and made illustrations, explanations and commitments on the series of issues of China’s concern. Given this, China decided to approve the salvage of the ship according to the Maritime Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Marine Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and relevant rules. China is going to monitor Japan’s operation in line with the international law and relevant domestic laws.

Japan has also made the following commitments:
1. To cooperate with Chinese law enforcement ships for their monitoring in these waters.
2. To take necessary measures to ensure that the operation causes no pollution to the maritime environment.
3. To brief China the progress and investigation results of the operation.
4. As the operation concludes, all the Japanese ships should immediately withdraw from relevant waters so that these waters would return to normal.

As for the making up for the losses of Chinese fishery caused by Japanese operation since the breaking out of the incident, the Japanese side has committed to carry out a serious study and soon deal with it with sincerity.    

Q: The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulated in 1994 that a coastal country is entitled the sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone. As the ship incident broke out quite some time ago, I would like to know why the Japanese side has not agreed on this point until now? What caused the change in the attitude of Japan? Is this going to set as an example, so that Japan has to get Chinese permission to enter China’s exclusive economic zone in the future?

A: I guess there is some discrepancy between the fact and your information. Japan did not come to agree on this point when proposing to salvage the ship. It made such a posture when requesting an underwater investigation on the ship.  

Secondly, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, China enjoys the sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone. It will continue to be abided by in future diplomatic practice.

Q: What’s your comment on the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) to be held in Thailand? What role does China expect the conference to play in promoting Asian peace and stability?

A: At the invitation of the Thai Government, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan leaves today for Thailand to attend the Asian Cooperation Dialogue. China has always attached importance to Asian cooperation. The Chinese side endorses and supports the positive ACD proposal of Thailand. During the conference, Foreign Minister Tang will make clear China’s position on relevant issues of ACD.

Q: The current tension between India and Pakistan has been relaxed. What’s your comment?

A: Both India and Pakistan have recently taken some positive steps to defuse their intense relations and the tensions have been de-escalated. We welcome and appreciate such efforts. We believe that to fundamentally defuse the tension and realize the peaceful coexistence, the two sides should resume dialogues and settle their differences and disputes through peaceful means. Pakistan has on many occasions clearly expressed its willingness to have dialogues with India at any time, in any place and at any level. We would like to see an early contact between the two sides, which conforms to the common interests of India and Pakistan and is also expected by the international community.

Q: US Defense Secretary Rumsfeld suggested giving more power to CIA to facilitate its actions to overthrow the Saddam regime. What’s China’s position on the US policy towards Iraq?

A: On the issue of Iraq, China has always believed that Iraq should earnestly implement relevant resolutions of the UN’s Security Council, yet the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq should be thoroughly respected. We have always maintained that to deal with state-to-state relations, we should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and norms governing international relations. We oppose willful use or threat of force in international relations.

Q: The US side disclosed Monday that US was expecting to have dialogues with Taiwan on weapons needed by the latter and on counterattack on mainland’s threat. It seems that the US Government wishes to establish a close military and political relationship with Taiwan. What’s your response to the remarks of the Assistant Secretary of State Kelly? What’s China’s position on this issue?

A: I have not read the specific report you mentioned. But I guess you were probably referring to a so-called arms sales meeting. China has on many occasions expounded on our principled position on the US-Taiwan relations. We have always opposed exchanges of official nature in any form between US and Taiwan, and opposed Taiwan Relations Act. On the Taiwan Question, the US should strictly abide by the one-China policy and principles enshrined in three China-US joint communiqués.  

Q: The ABM Treaty has expired, and Russia has also withdrawn from START II. What impact have these two incidents exerted on future arms control system?

A: Concerning the US withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, China’s position on the missile defense has been constant. We feel regretful for the expiration of the ABM Treaty. Russia’s position on the START II issue is related to the Treaty, and its withdrawal from the START II was well expected.

Q: You just pointed out that Japan was willing to adopt a serious attitude to help make up the losses of the fishery due to the salvage of the ship. What are the detailed contents of China’s request for the Japanese side to make up the losses?

A: Japan has promised to carry out a careful study and soon deal with the issue raised by China with sincerity. But the two sides have not held detailed consultations over it. I believe the two sides will do so at an appropriate time. Everything will be clear then.

Q: It has been learnt that there are now 18 North Koreans in the South Korean Embassy. Has there been any progress on handling this issue?

A: According to what I learnt yesterday, the South Korean side has briefed China that 20 people have entered the embassy. China and South Korea are maintaining contact on this issue, making efforts to solve the problem. I have no further information.

Q: We have heard that the Visa Office of the South Korean Embassy recorded everything at the gate, and it showed that the Chinese security guard did enter the Visa Office. Has the Chinese side heard about this?

A: I believe the videotape is not important. What matters is the fact itself. In my Friday press conference, I clearly pointed out that the security guard employed by Tayuan Apartment did not enter the Visa Office of the South Korean Embassy to take away the North Korean who tried to break in. I have made solemn explanation on this issue and I would like to reiterate the point again.

Q: Have China and Pakistan had diplomatic consultations on the suggestion from US and UK to defuse the tension on the Line of Actual Control? The Pakistani side has decided to pull out its troops to the peacetime location, yet the Indian side refused to do so. What’s the comment of the Chinese side?

A: China has always welcomed the moves of India and Pakistan to relax the tension. China also welcomes the recent suggestions and moves by the two sides that facilitate the de-escalation of the intense situation. China and Pakistan have normal contacts and the two sides also frequently have exchanges of views on the issue of Kashmir and India-Pakistan situation. As for any concrete exchanges between the two sides, I have no information in this regard.

Q: Does the agreement on the salvage of the ship between China and Japan include permission for Japan to pull the ship back to the Japanese port and take possession of it? If so, will China send its personnel on board for inspection instead of waiting for reports from the Japanese side? My second question is, was the identity of the North Korean taken away from the embassy verified? Is he under custody? Is the Chinese side going to hand him over to the North Korean authorities?

A: I have made quite detailed explanation on the issue of salvage just now. The two sides have reached a principled agreement after many rounds of negotiations, and we have to go through necessary procedures to confirm it. I have no further information here.

As for the North Korean who tried to break into the embassy on Thursday, Chinese public security departments are conducting further verification and investigation on his status. But one thing is for sure, that is he is going to receive humanitarian treatment, and China is going to handle the issue according to international law and relevant principles enshrined in China’s domestic laws.

Q: The Middle East situation is very intense now. You mentioned last time that a Vice Foreign Minister would visit Middle East recently. Could you brief us the relevant information?

A: The international community, China included, has been seriously concerned about the Middle East situation. China is now making positive efforts to play its due role in relaxing the Palestine-Israel conflicts and the resolution of the Middle East issue. I announced in my last press conference that Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang is going to visit the two countries. I would like to tell you that he is going to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon on June 19 local time, and with Chairman Arafat of the Palestinian Authorities on 20. We will release detailed information concerning the visit in time.

After the press conference, a correspondent asked why CCTV did not permit South Korean media to transmit video materials about the embassy incident.

A: I have no knowledge of what you mentioned. It is probably due to technical problem. But I would like to say that China has always been positive about the exchanges among South Korean media, and has spared no efforts to cooperate with South Korean press agencies for their work in China. At the same time, I hope that South Korean correspondents should abide by relevant rules and laws of China when carrying out their duties here.