Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on May 16, 2019

　　问：荷兰内阁昨天发布“中国政策文件”称，尽管中国是重要伙伴，但是荷兰应该以更加批判性的态度对待中国。中方如何看待荷方这份报告？报告是否将对中荷关系产生影响？

　　答：作为原则，中方一直认为，国与国之间如果要发展良好的、符合彼此共同利益的关系，就应该努力增进互信、积累共识、扩大合作成果。双方发展双边关系的努力不应动辄受到道听途说或者外界干扰的影响。

Q: Yesterday the Dutch cabinet released a policy note about its position on China, saying that although China is an important partner, the Netherlands should be more critical about it. How does China look at the report from the Netherlands? Does it have an effect possibly on the relationship between China and the Netherlands?

A: China believes that as a principle, to develop a sound and mutually-beneficial bilateral relationship, countries need to enhance trust, consensus and cooperation, and efforts to advance bilateral relations should not be easily influenced by hearsay or external disturbances.

　　我们注意到荷兰政府发布的“中国政策文件”。荷兰是中国在欧盟最重要的合作伙伴之一，中荷合作始终是两国关系的主流，而且这些年来给两国人民带来了实实在在的福祉。中方高度重视发展同荷兰的关系，也愿意同荷方继续在相互尊重、互利共赢基础上开展高水平合作。我们真诚希望荷兰方面能够客观、公正看待中国发展，能够同中方一道，维护并推动中荷关系健康、稳定发展，更好地造福两国人民。

　　问：中方如何看待美国商务部涉华为公司的有关决定？这是否意味着中美贸易战升级？

　　答：你指的是美国商务部5月15日将华为公司及其附属公司列入管制“实体名单”吗？

We have noted the Dutch government's policy note about its position on China. The Netherlands is one of China's most important partners in the EU. Cooperation has been the mainstream of our bilateral relations all along, which has delivered tangible benefits to our peoples. China attaches high importance to our bilateral relations. We are ready to work with the Dutch side for high-quality cooperation based on mutual respect and win-win spirit. We sincerely hope it can view China's development in an objective and fair manner and work with China for a sound and stable bilateral relationship that brings more benefits to our peoples.

Q: What is the reckoning of China to the situation with Huawei and the decision of the US Commerce Department? Is it the next step of a trade war?

A: Are you referring to the US Commerce Department's decision to add Huawei and its affiliates to its so-called Entity List?

　　记者澄清：是的。

　　据我了解，我商务部的同事今天下午可能也会就美国商务部的这一决定表明中方立场。

　　中方注意到美国商务部的决定。中方一贯要求企业认真严格执行国家出口管制相关法律法规，履行中方所承担的相关出口管制国际义务，在海外经营过程中，遵守所在国的法律政策，合法合规开展经营。

　　但是中方坚决反对任何国家根据自己的国内法对中国的实体实施单边制裁，也反对泛化国家安全概念，滥用出口管制措施。我们敦促美方停止错误做法，为两国企业开展正常的贸易与合作创造条件，避免对中美经贸关系造成进一步冲击。中方将采取必要的措施，坚决维护中国企业合法权益。

The journalist clarified: yes.

A: As far as I know, the Ministry of Commerce may state China's position regarding the US Commerce Department's decision this afternoon.

China has taken note of this decision. We ask our companies to follow the laws and regulations on export control and fulfill our due international obligations. We ask our companies to observe local laws and policies when doing business overseas.

But at the same time, we oppose the act of any country to impose unilateral sanctions on Chinese entities based on its domestic laws, and to abuse export control measures while making "national security" a catch-all phrase. We urge the US to stop its wrong practices, create conditions for Chinese and American companies to carry out normal trade and cooperation, and avoid causing more damage to bilateral economic and trade ties. The Chinese side will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our companies.

　　问：日前，美副国务卿汤普森在国会作证时称，中国投入大量资源推进核力量现代化。当前安全环境下，美方应考虑推动中国加入美俄军控协议，避免美国受到军控协议限制，而中国从中受益。中方对此有何评论？

　　答：我们多次回答过类似的问题。这不是美方高层人士第一次提出所谓美国应当与中国开展核裁军、核军控谈判了。坦率地说，我注意到国际军控界不少专业人士对此都有个疑问，美方究竟是想通过这样的谈判，把自己的核力量谈到中国的水平，还是把中国的核力量谈到美国的水平？在我印象中，基本还都是美国军控界专家提出这样的问题。

Q: US Under Secretary of State Andrea Thompson said during a Congressional hearing that China has used a lot of resources to modernize its nuclear force. Considering the security situation at the moment, the US should encourage China to join the New START so as to avoid being restricted by the treaty while China grows its nuclear ambitions. I wonder if you have any comment?

A: We have responded to many similar questions already. This is not the first time that a US high-level official put forth the idea of China joining the US and Russia in nuclear disarmament talks. Frankly, many nuclear disarmament experts are wondering: by engaging China in the talks, is the US trying to increase China's nuclear arsenal to its level or reduce its own nuclear arms to China's level? As I recall, most of those asking this question are American experts on arms control.