Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on January 16, 2019

　问：15日英国议会下院以202票赞成、432票反对的投票结果否决了英脱欧协议和英欧未来关系框架政治宣言。同日，反对党工党对政府发起不信任动议。请问中方对此有何评论？

　　答：中方高度关注英国脱欧问题，注意到英国国内及英欧之间围绕脱欧还存在一些分歧。我们认为，稳定、开放、发展的英国和欧盟符合各方利益，希望英国脱欧进程平稳、有序进行。中方推动中英、中欧关系并行发展的既定政策不会改变。

Q: On January 15, the British House of Commons rejected the Brexit deal and the political declaration which sets out a framework for the future UK-EU relationship by a vote of 432 to 202. On the same day, the opposition Labour Party introduced a motion of no confidence on the government. What is your comment?

A: China has been closely following the Brexit issue and noted that there are some disagreements within the UK and between the UK and the EU on this issue. We believe that when the UK and the EU enjoy stability, openness and development, all parties stand to benefit. We hope that the Brexit process would proceed in a steady and orderly way. China's existing policy in moving forward the development of China-UK and China-EU relations in parallel will not change.

　　关于英国反对党对政府发起不信任动议，这是英国内政，我不作评论。

　　问：加拿大人谢伦伯格因走私毒品罪被大连市中级人民法院判处死刑后，加拿大领导人称中国“随意”作出死刑判决。加拿大外长弗里兰表示，死刑是不人道和不恰当的。但我们也注意到，有加拿大媒体报道，谢伦伯格早在2003年和2012年，就分别因持有毒品和贩卖毒品被加拿大法院判刑。同时，不少加拿大网民也认为，走私200多千克冰毒是非常严重的罪行，加拿大政府不该为了这么一个恶劣的毒贩挑起外交事端。中方对此有何评论？

As for the motion of no confidence on the government introduced by the opposition party, it is their domestic affair and the Chinese side will not comment on that.

Q: After the Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to death by the Dalian Intermediate People's Court, Canadian leader said China has "arbitrarily" applied the death penalty. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland described the death penalty as inhumane and inappropriate. But we also noted that there are Canadian media reports that Schellenberg was convicted of drug possession and trafficking by courts in Canada as early as 2003 and 2012. In the meantime, some Canadian netizens also believe that smuggling over 200kg of methamphetamine is a felony and the Canadian government should not provoke diplomatic issues for such a vile drug trafficker. What's your comment?

　　答：我也注意到相关报道。从你刚才提问内容看，好像有些加拿大普通民众比加领导人更明事理。不知道加方领导人能否向本国民众解释清楚，222千克毒品会夺走多少人的生命？夺走多少个家庭的幸福？如果谢伦伯格因走私贩毒222千克被判死刑是不人道、不恰当的，那么让更多人被毒品夺走生命就是人道和恰当的吗？中国人对1840年鸦片战争后饱受毒品危害记忆犹新，我们不会允许任何国家的毒贩再来戕害中国人民的生命。如果谢伦伯格是在加拿大走私贩毒，加方怎么处理，我们不会在意。但此事发生在中国，就必须按照中国法律处理。

A: I also noted relevant reports. What you mentioned in your question seems to imply that some Canadians are even more sensible than their leader. I wonder if the leader of the Canadian side can make it clear to its people how many lives 222kg of drugs could claim and how many families could be robbed of their happiness? If Schellenberg's sentence to death for smuggling 222kg of drugs is inhumane and inappropriate, does that mean it's humane and appropriate to allow drugs to deprive more people's lives? The severe harm of drugs following the Opium War in 1840 is still very much alive in Chinese people's memory and we will never allow drug traffickers of other countries to put the lives of Chinese people in jeopardy. If this case of Schellenberg's drug smuggling happens in Canada, we wouldn't even care how the Canadian side handles it. But since this case has happened in China, it needs to be handled in accordance with Chinese law.