Editorials

Sticking to principles

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-08 07:47

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is justified in refuting the accusation that "China is becoming tough". On the sidelines of the ongoing National People's Congress annual session yesterday, Yang said that China has stuck to its principles, which is totally different from being tough.

Young's remarks should help brush off wild speculation about the role China should play in the international arena.

In the past 60 years China has adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace. China's diplomatic missions have always concentrated on safeguarding national interests while striving for world peace and development.

China has stood firm and has never traded principles for narrow gains when interacting with the rest of the world. This should not be interpreted or even regarded as being tough.

China has always pushed for dialogue and cooperation, resorting to peaceful resolutions for conflicts and crises.

In fact, those who have accused China of taking a tough stance harbor ulterior motives. The Copenhagen climate change conference is a case in point. After the world initiative failed to reach a substantial internationally binding deal last December, some in the West have made China a scapegoat and shirked their own responsibilities.

Just like Yang said yesterday, global challenges, such as climate change, energy and resources security and public health security, have become increasingly acute.

Groundless accusation only sow the seed of distrust and do a disservice to the international efforts to respond to these issues.

(China Daily 03/08/2010 page8)