China’s Foreign Ministry has intimated that the US-led NATO still owes a “blood debt” to Chinese people.
The statement comes against the backdrop of Serbia’s nation-wide commemoration of the deaths of thousands of innocent people, bombed by NATO in 1999, in then Yugoslavia. The innocent victims include three Chines journalists, in what Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic condemned as “a horrific act of crime, and act of aggression” from NATO.
It also comes as US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken called on NATO members to help counter the threat from an “aggressive and coercive” China, this week. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also described China as a “challenge.”
In a press briefing, Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stressed that the US-led NATO should not forget the incident that happened in 1999. Hua described it as a serious violation of relevant international laws and basic norms governing international relations.
“China would like to remind NATO that they still owe a debt of blood to the Chinese people. The dead have passed away, but the living need more vigilance and reflection.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying
She indicated that the trend of world development today is peace and development, and such a historical trend is unstoppable. However, she said, “we have also seen that power politics and hegemonism still resurface from time to time. This seriously endangers and threatens world security, stability and international equity and justice.”
“Whether in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya or Syria, we should never forget the lives of ordinary people lost to repeated bombardment; the crumbling walls under the shells, the glorious historical sites consumed by the flames.”
Promoting world peace, stability and development
Hua Chunying also pointed out the “double standards” of Western countries, that don’t take responsibilities for their actions.
“The US and some Western countries have kept their mouths open about human rights and kept their mouths shut about their responsibilities.
“When they blatantly launched a war against a sovereign country without the Security Council’s authorization, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and the dispersal of millions of people, did they ever care about the human rights of the people in those countries?
“Is this what they mean by international rules? Shouldn’t they be held accountable for their war actions?”.
Hua described China and Serbia as countries that do not fear power and cherish peace. She also revealed China is ready to work with Serbia and all peace-loving countries to safeguard international fairness and justice. This, she said, is to jointly safeguard and promote world peace, stability and development.
“The times when the big bullied the small and the strong bullied the weak are long gone. We call on all countries to jointly resist unilateral bullying and unfold the fist of violence into the hands of upholding peace.”
Serbia has marked the Remembrance Day for the Victims of the NATO Aggression held on the of the beginning of the 78-day attack spearheaded by the United States.
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