Chinese embassy firmly opposes British govt's response to parliament's 'China report'

LONDON -- The Chinese Embassy in Britain has expressed firm opposition to and strong condemnation of the British government's response to a so-called "China report" published by the country's parliament earlier this year.

"The UK government's response to such a false report, which has no factual basis at all, is sheer political manipulation. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it," a spokesperson for the embassy said in response to a question concerning the British government's response on Thursday to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament's "China report" published in July.

"This so-called 'China report' by the relevant committee of the UK Parliament made groundless accusations and used fabricated facts to smear China. China already stated its solemn position on it," the spokesperson said.

China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs in its foreign policy, and has no need or interest whatsoever in engaging in intelligence collection or so-called "penetration" or "interference" in Britain, the spokesperson said.

China is a staunch defender of cyber security and one of the major victims of cyber espionage and attacks, the spokesperson said, adding that Britain's hyping-up of the so-called "cyber threat" from China is a typical example of a thief crying "catch thief."

"The UK government's unprincipled support for this so-called 'China report' concocted by politicians with ulterior motives will only make itself a laughing stock and cause serious damage to its own international credibility," the spokesperson said.

"We urge the UK to respect objective facts, stop political manipulation, stop spreading rumors against China, and stop creating obstacles to the development of China-UK relations," the spokesperson said.