Foreign and Military Affairs

China refutes criticisms on efforts for emergency talks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-02 16:56

BEIJING - China on Thursday refuted criticisms on its efforts for emergency Six-Party consultations on the Korean Peninsula situation.

"While it seems justified for someone to wield weapons, China, as host of the Six-Party Talks, received criticisms for proposing the consultations. Is it fair?" Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news briefing.

China on Sunday proposed emergency consultations among the heads of delegations to the Six-Party Talks in Beijing in early December following the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States on Wednesday concluded a four-day joint naval drill in waters west of the divided peninsula after the exchange of artillery fire last week between the ROK and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Russia had expressed support for China's call for emergency consultations, said Jiang.

"The starting point for China proposing emergency consultations is to let all parties sit at the negotiation table and exchange views on major issues, so as to ease the tensions on the Korean Peninsula," said Jiang, adding the emergency consultations do not mean formal six-party talks.

The Six-Party Talks group China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan.

"We hope parties concerned would consider China's proposal seriously from the perspective of safeguarding peace and stability of North East Asia and promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Jiang stressed.