Ambassador Liu Xiaoming Delivers A Keynote Speech and Answers Questions at the Webinar with UK Think Tanks On China-Europe Relations

John Nugee from OMFIF: I want to understand more on the observed change of China's international policy, its approach to international relations. What stood out for me in the last 30 years is that China has adopted a firm national view on its differences with other nations and mutual respect and above all patience. Patience has been the watchword for China. And differences of views existed but they're not actively pursued. Now we observe a change. We observe a growing desire to close unanswered questions, whether it's Hong Kong or Taiwan. We also observe impatience with opposing views both internally and internationally. The wisdom of the earlier administrations - when there is a problem, shelf an argument - is not held. The enemy is not made. This has been given way to an urgent approach. The result is a less harmonious world for China and less respect for China, which pains anybody who's interested in the harmonious relations between Europe and China. I'm just puzzled as to why this happened. Why has China decided to abandon the wisdom of the last 25 years and adopt a more urgent approach to many issues facing the world?

Ambassador Liu: I would say China has not changed. You know, China is a peace loving country and peace is in the DNA of the Chinese nation. China works very hard for world peace and stability. China benefits from a peaceful environment for the past 40 years since we opened up and implemented reform. Why should we rock the boat and why should we change it? We believe that China will continue to benefit from this peaceful environment. But I think it is the other side that has changed tremendously. China has to make response to that. Take China-US relationship for example. We want to have a good relationship with the US. We have no reason to have bad relationship. But it is the United States, who imposes sanctions and demonizes China. Look at this pandemic. Their president, their secretary of state, keep calling "China virus". They withdrew from the WHO. Who has changed? I think people have to be objective with regard to change.

On Taiwan, we have a good cross strait-relationship with Taiwan when KMT was in office. But when the Democratic Progress Party came in, it pursued this road of "Taiwan independence". That causes a big problem for the cross-strait relationship. And the United States tried to play this Taiwan card with us. They increase their arms sales to Taiwan. They want to give international recognition to Taiwan. They rock the boat and we have to make response.

On Hong Kong, 23 years after the handover, "One Country, Two Systems" is a great success. Why should we rock the boat? But look at what happened last year? You know, there was turbulence. There's a movement for "Hong Kong independence", "self determination". They even waved the union jack and US flags, calling for the United States to land on Hong Kong to liberate Hong Kong. We have a reason to be worried about that. When we say "One Country, Two Systems", it is a complete concept.