问：美国防长马蒂斯今天已经抵京，他此访正值中美之间在南海和贸易等问题上关系紧张之际。中方邀请马蒂斯在中美关系艰难、敏感的时期访华，是否意在释放积极信号？ 

　　答：关于马蒂斯防长访华的问题，中国国防部新闻发言人已经发布了消息，也介绍了有关情况。中美两军交流一直是中美两国交往与合作的重要组成部分。一段时间以来，中美两军交流也在不断发展。马蒂斯防长此访是双方早已商定的。双方将就两国、两军关系及共同关心的问题交换意见。 

　　至于你谈到中美关系现在是否处于非常敏感或问题很多的时期，大家可能现在比较关注中美经贸关系出现的一些情况。我们多次指出，中美两个大国建交40年来，各领域利益已高度融合，相互交往与合作越来越多，接触面也越来越大。两国关系在不同时期、不同领域出现一些情况都是难免的。关键是无论在哪个领域，双方都应本着相互尊重、相互理解、扩大合作、管控分歧的精神妥善处理好两国关系。我相信，只要双方都有这样的意愿，相向而行，没有什么克服不了的困难。 

Q: US Defense Secretary James Mattis has arrived in Beijing today. He is visiting obviously at a time of a lot of tensions between Beijing and Washington over such issues as the South China Sea and trade. Isn't it a positive signal that China is sending that it has invited him to come and he is indeed visiting at this very sensitive and difficult time in relations between China and the United States? 

A: Regarding US Defense Secretary Mattis' visit, the Spokesperson of China's Defense Ministry has already released relevant information and offered some details as well. As an important component of exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, China-US mil-to-mil exchange has been enhancing over a period of time. Defense Secretary Mattis' visit was agreed long before by the two sides. The two sides will exchange views on China-US relations, military ties and issues of mutual interest.

You mentioned that China-US relations were at a sensitive and problematic time. You may all be thinking about our bilateral trade issues. Like we repeatedly said before, after 40 years of development since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the interests of China and the US are inextricably intertwined, and with growing exchanges and cooperation, China and the US are further exposed to each other. We believe it is all natural that bilateral ties may encounter some problems at different sectors during various periods. Regardless of all that, what is imperative is that China and the US should properly handle bilateral ties in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual understanding, expanding cooperation and controlling differences. We believe that as long as we continue to follow this spirit and meet each other halfway, there will be no insurmountable difficulties.

　　问：近日在接受法新社采访时，台湾地区领导人蔡英文称大陆向台湾“施加巨大压力”，呼吁国际社会遏制中国。她还称，各方需合作重申对民主自由的重视，以制约大陆，并减少大陆“霸权扩张”。中方对此有何回应？ 

　　答：我们多次说过，台湾是中国的一部分，岛内一些人说的一些话，是中国内部的事情，我们不会在外交部这个场合具体回应。建议你向中国政府主管台湾事务的部门了解。 

　　作为一个原则，我想指出，希望台湾岛内的一些人能够认清国家、民族发展大势和国际大势，不要在错误的道路上越走越远。试图挟洋自重更是无济于事。

Q: In a recent interview with AFP, leader of the Taiwan region Tsai Ing-wen said that the mainland was putting "immense pressure" on Taiwan and called on the international community to constrain China, saying that we need to work together to reaffirm our values on democracy and freedom in order to constrain China and also minimize "the expansion of hegemonic influence". I wonder if you have any reaction to that? 

A: As we said on many occasions, Taiwan is part of China. What was said by certain person in Taiwan falls within China's internal affairs, and we won't give specific reaction to that here at the Foreign Ministry. I would like to refer you to the competent department of the Chinese government that is in charge of the Taiwan affairs.

I shall point out in principle that we hope certain people in Taiwan could correctly understand the development trend of China and its national unity as well as the evolvement of international circumstance and stop moving further down the wrong path. It won't work even if they try to bank on foreign forces to build themselves up.