China criticizes US for changing webpage

Beijing expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Thursday over the United States' State Department's modification of the US-China relations webpage and the factsheet on US-China relations, urging Washington to cease smearing and pressuring China.

Addressing a regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said such a move by the US distorts the facts, smears China's foreign policy, and promotes the so-called strategic competition between the two countries.

"China urges the US to fulfill the important consensus reached in the phone call between the leaders of the two countries through concrete actions, and to stop misleading the American people and the international community," he said.

The spokesman called on the US to objectively and rationally handle and develop China-US relations to jointly promote their stable, healthy, and sustainable development.

Noting that China's policy toward the US has been consistent and clear, Guo said China remains committed to viewing and developing Sino-US relations based on the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

"At the same time, China firmly defends its national sovereignty, security, and development interests," he added.