China's UN envoy rebuts US counterpart's accusations

China's ambassador to the United Nations on Sunday rebutted "unfounded" accusations against China made by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, permanent representative of the United States to the UN, in her interview with CNN, and warned the US not to go "further down the wrong path".

"The US has again made accusations against China and wrongful, irresponsible remarks on issues like the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xinjiang and Taiwan," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, said in a press statement. "Such groundless, politically biased words have seriously poisoned the China-US relations.

"Facing such a smear campaign, China has no choice but to push back and clarify our position and reject the unfounded accusations by the US," the envoy said.

Zhang emphasized that the Olympics have successfully kicked off. The opening ceremony was attended by around 170 official representatives from nearly 70 countries and international organizations, including 31 heads of state, heads of government, members of the royal family and heads of international organizations.

Many more state leaders and heads of international organizations have called or sent letters to President Xi Jinping to wish the Games a great success and the Chinese people a Happy Lunar New Year, the envoy said.

"This fully shows the international community's firm support for China, for the Beijing Winter Olympics, and for the Olympic Movement," said Zhang.

He said the US attempt to make an issue of the Olympic Games "has won no support and met with complete failure". Zhang said that athletes competing at the Beijing Winter Olympics are the ones that should be in the spotlight, and "the US politicians should have left the stage for them long ago!"

He said that "repeated lies" by the US about the "genocide" in Xinjiang have already been "debunked by facts".

"People of all ethnic groups there are enjoying a peaceful, harmonious and happy life," said Zhang.

The envoy pointed out that in Team China, there are 20 athletes from nine ethnic minorities, including Uygur and Tibetan. One of them is Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a Uygur cross-country skier who lit the Olympic caldron.

"She is the pride and excellent representative of the Chinese people. On what ground does the US have such inexplicable anger over this? And why?" said Zhang.

Zhang stressed that Taiwan is "an inseparable part of the Chinese territory. The settlement of the Taiwan question is China's internal affairs and allows no interference by the US or any other external forces. The future of Taiwan lies in national reunification, not some security guarantee from the US," he said.

"The US should stop emboldening and supporting the ‘Taiwan independence' forces, follow the true one-China policy, and match its actions with words. Otherwise, playing (with) fire on the Taiwan question will only end up getting burned," the envoy said.

Zhang said that the US claims to care about human rights, yet it "has left a disgraceful record in violating human rights, which deserves close attention and serious accountability from the international community".

Zhang stressed that the US is facing serious political, economic, social, security and public health issues. Under such circumstances, "the US politicians need to heed the voice of the people and solve its own problems, instead of being trapped in the mindset of American supremacy over everything, still less shifting responsibilities, creating confrontations or obstructing other countries' development," he said.

"Here is my advice to the US: Do not go further down the wrong path. It will not only make your own people suffer, but also create more trouble for other countries and the whole world," said the ambassador.