China rejects claims of interference in Solomon Islands

China has consistently upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and has never had any interest in, nor will it in any way interfere in, other countries' internal affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Tuesday.

Guo made the remarks at a regular news briefing after a reporter asked whether Chinese diplomats in the Solomon Islands had contacts with political figures who initiated a no-confidence motion against Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, and whether the ministry had a response to New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ suggestion that external forces — widely understood as referring to China — were involved in the move.

On the New Zealand-related remarks, Guo said the claim is completely groundless.

Guo said China has always adhered to the "four full respects" principle in developing relations with Pacific Island countries — namely, fully respecting their sovereignty and independence, fully respecting their will, fully respecting their cultural traditions, and fully respecting their effort to seek strength through unity.