05:14Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange showed the world 'what American press freedom is', during the daily press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
"People are concerned about the fate of Assange because the Assange case clearly tells the world what American press freedom is," he said.
"To put it bluntly, freedom of the press is just like the so-called democracy and human rights. It is only a tool used by the United States to suppress dissidents and safeguard its own hegemony. This is the inspiration that the Assange case brings to people," he continued. "Assange won a round in the struggle against American hegemony, but whether he can win the final victory in this battle remains to be seen."
On Monday, London's High Court granted Assange the right to a fresh appeal. He is wanted in the US on 18 charges related to the release of classified documents covering the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and has been held at the UK's Belmarsh prison since 2019.
Following the announcement that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor would pursue warrants for the arrest of Israeli and Hamas leaders on 'war crimes' charges, the spokesperson called on the court to take an 'objective and impartial stance' and 'exercise its functions and powers in accordance with the law'.
After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently congratulated Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, Wang Wenbin claimed the US administration was sending 'a serious wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces' and reiterated his country's opposition to 'any form of official exchanges between countries that have established diplomatic relations with Taiwan'.
'Assange case tells world what American press freedom is' - China's MOFA spox as WikiLeaks founder wins right to appeal extradition
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange showed the world 'what American press freedom is', during the daily press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
"People are concerned about the fate of Assange because the Assange case clearly tells the world what American press freedom is," he said.
"To put it bluntly, freedom of the press is just like the so-called democracy and human rights. It is only a tool used by the United States to suppress dissidents and safeguard its own hegemony. This is the inspiration that the Assange case brings to people," he continued. "Assange won a round in the struggle against American hegemony, but whether he can win the final victory in this battle remains to be seen."
On Monday, London's High Court granted Assange the right to a fresh appeal. He is wanted in the US on 18 charges related to the release of classified documents covering the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and has been held at the UK's Belmarsh prison since 2019.
Following the announcement that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor would pursue warrants for the arrest of Israeli and Hamas leaders on 'war crimes' charges, the spokesperson called on the court to take an 'objective and impartial stance' and 'exercise its functions and powers in accordance with the law'.
After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently congratulated Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, Wang Wenbin claimed the US administration was sending 'a serious wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces' and reiterated his country's opposition to 'any form of official exchanges between countries that have established diplomatic relations with Taiwan'.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange showed the world 'what American press freedom is', during the daily press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
"People are concerned about the fate of Assange because the Assange case clearly tells the world what American press freedom is," he said.
"To put it bluntly, freedom of the press is just like the so-called democracy and human rights. It is only a tool used by the United States to suppress dissidents and safeguard its own hegemony. This is the inspiration that the Assange case brings to people," he continued. "Assange won a round in the struggle against American hegemony, but whether he can win the final victory in this battle remains to be seen."
On Monday, London's High Court granted Assange the right to a fresh appeal. He is wanted in the US on 18 charges related to the release of classified documents covering the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and has been held at the UK's Belmarsh prison since 2019.
Following the announcement that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor would pursue warrants for the arrest of Israeli and Hamas leaders on 'war crimes' charges, the spokesperson called on the court to take an 'objective and impartial stance' and 'exercise its functions and powers in accordance with the law'.
After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently congratulated Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, Wang Wenbin claimed the US administration was sending 'a serious wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces' and reiterated his country's opposition to 'any form of official exchanges between countries that have established diplomatic relations with Taiwan'.