٠٠:٠٢:٢٨Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning avoided getting drawn into the row between Berlin, Moscow and London, following the release of a leaked recording of German officers discussing the potential use of Taurus missiles in Ukraine, during the daily press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
She said that 'China's position' was 'consistent and clear' on Ukraine.
"We hope that all parties will work for a political settlement of the crisis and work together to alleviate the situation," she said.
The 38-minute recording leaked to Russian media, published on Friday, features four senior German military officers discussing the potential use of Taurus missiles in Ukraine, the supply of 100 such missiles and possible targets, including the Kerch Bridge.
It included the claim that the UK had 'people on the ground', which the country has repeatedly denied. The German Defence Ministry subsequently confirmed the audio was genuine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a 'very serious' security breach while Deputy Head of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram that it proved Germany was 'preparing for war against Russia'.
Mao Ning also hit back at reports of a US investigation into the alleged national security risk of imported Chinese vehicles, announced before the weekend.
"Such remarks are not only false narratives but also a typical move of politicising economic and trade issues and overstretching the concept of security," she claimed. "By this logic, should China be more worried about Washington sending Chinese users’ information to the US via hundreds of millions of iPhones, or even disable them simultaneously?"
Her remarks came after the White House said a probe was required due to the vehicles collecting 'large amounts of sensitive data'. Chinese electric vehicles are targeting markets in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East, although BYD was reportedly looking at plant locations in Mexico, despite saying its cars were not intended for the US market.
Following US Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark's visit to Beijing, and her positive comments about firms doing business in China, Mao Ning added that 'we have noticed that for some time, foreign companies from the US and other countries have been bullish about the development opportunities of the Chinese market and scaled up their investment in China'.
She said that '4,588 foreign-funded companies were established in China this January with a year-on-year increase of 74.4 percent', she said.
Mao Ning was also asked to comment on reports that Premier Li Qiang would give no press briefing following the National People's Congress - and if there was cause for concern from the foreign press.
"During the two sessions, the plenary sessions of the NPC are open to Chinese and foreign friends from the press," she said. "Premier Li Qiang will deliver the report on the work of the government on behalf of the State Council at the opening of the second session of the 14th NPC. In addition to the press conference of the NPC today, the second session of the 14th NPC will hold various events, including press conferences, the deputies’ and ministers’ press briefings, and delegation meetings open to the press, to fully release information."
Our position on Ukraine 'consistent and clear' - MOFA spox dodges row over German audio leak detailing Taurus plans, UK 'troops on ground'
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning avoided getting drawn into the row between Berlin, Moscow and London, following the release of a leaked recording of German officers discussing the potential use of Taurus missiles in Ukraine, during the daily press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
She said that 'China's position' was 'consistent and clear' on Ukraine.
"We hope that all parties will work for a political settlement of the crisis and work together to alleviate the situation," she said.
The 38-minute recording leaked to Russian media, published on Friday, features four senior German military officers discussing the potential use of Taurus missiles in Ukraine, the supply of 100 such missiles and possible targets, including the Kerch Bridge.
It included the claim that the UK had 'people on the ground', which the country has repeatedly denied. The German Defence Ministry subsequently confirmed the audio was genuine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a 'very serious' security breach while Deputy Head of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram that it proved Germany was 'preparing for war against Russia'.
Mao Ning also hit back at reports of a US investigation into the alleged national security risk of imported Chinese vehicles, announced before the weekend.
"Such remarks are not only false narratives but also a typical move of politicising economic and trade issues and overstretching the concept of security," she claimed. "By this logic, should China be more worried about Washington sending Chinese users’ information to the US via hundreds of millions of iPhones, or even disable them simultaneously?"
Her remarks came after the White House said a probe was required due to the vehicles collecting 'large amounts of sensitive data'. Chinese electric vehicles are targeting markets in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East, although BYD was reportedly looking at plant locations in Mexico, despite saying its cars were not intended for the US market.
Following US Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark's visit to Beijing, and her positive comments about firms doing business in China, Mao Ning added that 'we have noticed that for some time, foreign companies from the US and other countries have been bullish about the development opportunities of the Chinese market and scaled up their investment in China'.
She said that '4,588 foreign-funded companies were established in China this January with a year-on-year increase of 74.4 percent', she said.
Mao Ning was also asked to comment on reports that Premier Li Qiang would give no press briefing following the National People's Congress - and if there was cause for concern from the foreign press.
"During the two sessions, the plenary sessions of the NPC are open to Chinese and foreign friends from the press," she said. "Premier Li Qiang will deliver the report on the work of the government on behalf of the State Council at the opening of the second session of the 14th NPC. In addition to the press conference of the NPC today, the second session of the 14th NPC will hold various events, including press conferences, the deputies’ and ministers’ press briefings, and delegation meetings open to the press, to fully release information."
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning avoided getting drawn into the row between Berlin, Moscow and London, following the release of a leaked recording of German officers discussing the potential use of Taurus missiles in Ukraine, during the daily press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
She said that 'China's position' was 'consistent and clear' on Ukraine.
"We hope that all parties will work for a political settlement of the crisis and work together to alleviate the situation," she said.
The 38-minute recording leaked to Russian media, published on Friday, features four senior German military officers discussing the potential use of Taurus missiles in Ukraine, the supply of 100 such missiles and possible targets, including the Kerch Bridge.
It included the claim that the UK had 'people on the ground', which the country has repeatedly denied. The German Defence Ministry subsequently confirmed the audio was genuine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a 'very serious' security breach while Deputy Head of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram that it proved Germany was 'preparing for war against Russia'.
Mao Ning also hit back at reports of a US investigation into the alleged national security risk of imported Chinese vehicles, announced before the weekend.
"Such remarks are not only false narratives but also a typical move of politicising economic and trade issues and overstretching the concept of security," she claimed. "By this logic, should China be more worried about Washington sending Chinese users’ information to the US via hundreds of millions of iPhones, or even disable them simultaneously?"
Her remarks came after the White House said a probe was required due to the vehicles collecting 'large amounts of sensitive data'. Chinese electric vehicles are targeting markets in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East, although BYD was reportedly looking at plant locations in Mexico, despite saying its cars were not intended for the US market.
Following US Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark's visit to Beijing, and her positive comments about firms doing business in China, Mao Ning added that 'we have noticed that for some time, foreign companies from the US and other countries have been bullish about the development opportunities of the Chinese market and scaled up their investment in China'.
She said that '4,588 foreign-funded companies were established in China this January with a year-on-year increase of 74.4 percent', she said.
Mao Ning was also asked to comment on reports that Premier Li Qiang would give no press briefing following the National People's Congress - and if there was cause for concern from the foreign press.
"During the two sessions, the plenary sessions of the NPC are open to Chinese and foreign friends from the press," she said. "Premier Li Qiang will deliver the report on the work of the government on behalf of the State Council at the opening of the second session of the 14th NPC. In addition to the press conference of the NPC today, the second session of the 14th NPC will hold various events, including press conferences, the deputies’ and ministers’ press briefings, and delegation meetings open to the press, to fully release information."