"China’s development is an opportunity, not a threat"

China’s development is an opportunity, not a threat, says the Chinese Embassy in Maldives.

The Embassy of China in the Maldives released a statement refuting negative remarks made by the United States’ Secretary of State Michael Pompeo during his brief visit to the Maldives on Wednesday, where he engaged with discussions with the country’s President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on further collaboration and strengthening ties between the U.S. and Maldives.

During his visit Pompeo claimed that China presents the biggest threat to the people of Maldives, and the island nation’s economy.

The Chinese Embassy’s statement that was released shortly after the “blatant” remarks, reads that Pompeo had determinedly spread political rumors regarding China and attempted to soil the China-Maldives relationship

The embassy noted that “unilateralism and hegemony” pursued by the American government is, indeed a threat to peaceful and stable international relations.

Accusing the U.S. Secretary of State of openly pressuring smaller nations to take sides, the embassy noted that Pompeo’s claim that U.S. respects sovereignty “just sounds like a joke”.

Highlighting that every country has the right for development and maintaining independent foreign policies revolving around peace, the Chinese government asserted that mutually-beneficial cooperation between Maldives and China is in line with common interests of both countries and will reap “more benefits” for the people of both countries.

China hold the flag of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, high and has made major contributions to world development and according to surveys conducted by international authoritative institutions, the Chinese people's satisfaction and trust toward the CPC-led Chinese government counts as high as 93 percent, reads the statement.

Highlighting that China has achieved strategic victory in combatting the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the embassy questioned the government of America’s performance. In this regard the embassy noted that American politicians must acknowledge that China and the U.S. are “different” and face up to China’s achievements and contributions to the world.

While Pompeo during his visit told press that democracies believe in a free open Indo-Pacific, the Chinese Embassy stated that the “so-called” Indo-Pacific strategy intends to churn conflicts among different groups and to fuel geopolitical competition which violates the spirit of mutual benefits featuring win-win outcomes and undermines the prospect of regional peace and development.

During his visit Pompeo also stated that the Chinese Communist Party continues its lawless and threatening behavior, reflected in the illegal militarization in south China Sea, to which the Chinese government responded by saying that it is reasonable, legal and within our sovereignty.

China has actively implemented national climate change strategy and policies as the biggest developing country, at a time climate change is a challenge faced by all, the statement goes on to read.

As such, the embassy revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured commitment in the General Debate of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly to make “more national contribution” and adopt “stronger policies” and measures to strive for the peak of carbon dioxide emission before 2030 and the realization of carbon neutrality before 2060.

Pompeo, in an exclusive interview with RaajjeMV stated that countries that have signed onto the Paris Climate Agreement “have no intention” of actually complying with it. U.S. announced its withdrawal from the agreement, which the Chinese government described as an obstacle for the international community to tackle climate change.

The Embassy of China questioned how the U.S. feels qualified to point fingers at China, in this regard.