BEIJING: The United States would do better to look at its own domestic problems like gun violence rather than turning its ire on China, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday (Oct 25), lambasting US Vice President Mike Pence for his "arrogance and hypocrisy" after a critical speech on China.
Pence on Thursday accused China of curtailing "rights and liberties" in Hong Kong and blasted US company Nike and the National Basketball Association for falling in line with Beijing in a disagreement over free speech.
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In a policy speech on China that touched on an array of disputes ahead of talks with Beijing to ease a trade war, Pence said the United States does not seek confrontation or to "de-couple" from its main economic rival.
But he pulled no punches when addressing some of the political rifts between the two countries, praising Chinese-claimed Taiwan as a beacon of democracy and criticising China for its treatment of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang region.
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Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Pence's speech was full of lies and prejudice, and that it had made China "strongly indignant".
China is resolute in defending its sovereignty and security, and will never allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs over Hong Kong, Taiwan or Xinjiang, she added.
"A handful of politicians with Pence at their head have confused black with white on these issues, making irresponsible remarks and creating rumours to slander others," Hua said, adding that the United States should "cease expressing irresponsible opinions".
Pence is "easily arrogant" about other countries and yet turns a blind eye to the ills of his own country, instead "attempting to distract the American public by slanderingRead More – Source
