Foreign Ministry responds to US name-calling

On Friday the Foreign Ministry rejected the United States' labeling China as "a thuggish regime", saying Washington has confounded right with wrong in an attempt to conceal the fact it interferes in China's domestic affairs.

The spokesperson of the US State Department was astonished to claim the job of American diplomats was to meddle with the domestic affairs of other countries, the ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

"Can the world be at peace with the way the US operates?" Hua asked in the statement.

Hua's comments came as US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on Thursday called China a "thuggish regime" for disclosing photographs and personal details of a US diplomat who met with major leaders of the "Hong Kong Independence" activist groups.

The US State Department spokesperson should look at her own words and behaviors instead of using media reports to hit out at the government of another country, Hua said, adding US interference in Hong Kong affairs has aroused resolute opposition and strong indignation from the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots.

She urged the US side to observe international law and basic norms governing international relations, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China's domestic affairs.