Transcript of Ambassador Lu Kang’s Interview with Metro TV on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to China’s Taiwan

2022-08-05 23:47

Host: As we know, US House speaker Nancy Pelosi recently made a visit to Taiwan. Geopolitical tensions have been high since then. I get a very important perspective on the situation. I am joined by His Excellency, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Ambassador Lu Kang, How are you Your Excellency? Thank you so much for your time.

Ambassador Lu Kang: Good morning, Khrisna.

Host:Right. Let's get right into it. In regards to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and its aftermath, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently reaffirmed that the US is committed to the One-China Policy, conveying a message that peace and stability in the Indo Pacific region is in the interest of all. What is your response to this, Mr. Ambassador?

Ambassador Lu Kang:Everybody now is looking at what will be the aftermath of Speaker Pelosi’s visit to China's Taiwan. Actually, this visit is by nature an attempt to instigate separatist activities to serve America's own geopolitical agenda. It is an infringing upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Definitely, that's a very severe violation of basic norms governing international relations.

Actually, it is also a very irresponsible, provocative action to stir up confrontation and intensify the instability, especially in this region. I think this move, once again, put the integrity of the American government in question. You just mentioned that Secretary Blinken said that, they still commit to the One-China policy. But now you can see, all the moves taken by the American administration is aimed at hollowing out their One-China policy. Actually, that's very irresponsible. You can see that the Americans have repeatedly mentioned that they commit themselves to the One-China policy, and they commit to only unofficial relations, for example, the people to people, the commercial business relations with the people of Taiwan within the One-China framework. But now you see, they send their No.3 politician in a military aircraft to China's Taiwan island, and then they still characterize it as “unofficial”. That sounds very ridiculous, to be honest. The last thing I would like to say, this is another proof to keep all countries alert on the brinkmanship of the American policy, on today's international arena.

Host:Right. Mr. Ambassador, as we know, tensions are quite high at the moment, and the PLA is conducting military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday. There were precision missile strikes into the Taiwan Strait. Mr. Ambassador can you tell us what is the goal of these military exercises?

Ambassador Lu Kang:I think for all countries around the world, we have to admit that, China is just like all other countries, we are justified to take any necessary measures to safeguard our own sovereignty and territorial integrity and to attack against all those who try to provoke on China's core interests. So let me put it very simple, China's legitimate actions are not going to stop until the separatist activities on China's Taiwan island are stopped, until the American attempt to incite the separatist plot in China are stopped!

Host:Right now it is military exercises, Mr. Ambassador, what are the chances of going further or just exercises?

Ambassador Lu Kang:I've already said that, actually, before Speaker Pelosi’s visit to China's Taiwan island, we have already issued our warning again and again to the American government and to the authorities on the Taiwan island, don't play with fire. Since they just carry out their own plot, this kind of activities, in spite of the repeated warning, as I just mentioned, China's actions will not stop until their separatist moves are stopped.

Host:Mr. Ambassador, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, she reiterated that peace and stability in the Indo Pacific region is key. Indo Pacific, is the future of the world. So right now, what is needed to maintain stability in the region, Mr. Ambassador?

Ambassador Lu Kang: Actually, China, just like all the other countries in this region, we care much more than anybody else outside this region about the peace, stability, and prosperity here. So that's why today on almost all the multilateral arena, you could see that China will be among those advocating focus on international economic cooperation, in contrast to some other forces, who will always try to highlight security tension, to highlight block politics, to highlight military confrontation, especially in this region.

So I think Speaker Pelosi’ visit to China's Taiwan island, is another proof that countries around the world, especially in this region, should unite together to stop, to prevent any further attempt by any forces to instigate separatist activities in other countries, to stop any attempt to infringe upon the domestic affairs of any other countries. That will bring about a sustainable stability and development in the region.

Host:Well the stability as you mentioned is very important. So at the moment, is there a chance for a diplomatic dialogue or solution between the parties involved?

Ambassador Lu Kang: China is not the one who took the provocative action. China is justified to take legitimate actions, to respond to the provocative actions against China. We have already made it clear. So long as there are still those advocating separatists moves on China's Taiwan island, and so long as there are still those encouraging this kind of activity, so long as there are still these irresponsible and risky actions, there won’t be chance for stability in this region.

Host:At this very moment, has there been any sort of efforts for kind of diplomatic talks, Mr. Ambassador?

Ambassador Lu Kang:I think I made myself very clear. The ball is in the court of those who took, who initiated the provocative actions.

Host:OK, Mr. Ambassador. Now, as we know, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo recently visited China and the tie is more bolstered. There were more trade commitments made, especially in regards to CPO. Now, will this situation impact Indonesia-China trade, and what efforts can be made to ensure that it is not hurt, Mr. Ambassador?

Ambassador Lu Kang: China and Indonesia are both developing countries. We both now put our development agenda at very high priority. We have a lot of common interests. That's why China and Indonesia we could come very quickly to the agreement to work more closely on economic cooperation and economy development. From the perspective of our respective and common interests, I don't think this will be affected by any attempt from outside.

Host:Right. So just for Indonesia-China ties will remain strong in spite of these tensions.

Ambassador Lu Kang:I strongly believe so. I hope that's also what my Indonesian colleagues will insist on.

Host: Mr. Ambassador, as we know, the global economy right now is in dire condition at the moment, there's recession looming in many countries. Now, as we know, Taiwan is major producer of semiconductors, and there's already global shortage of semiconductor chips. How will China ensure that this key industry will not be affected by this current tensions?

Ambassador Lu Kang:Actually, we have to look in a bigger picture. As I said, China will be the last to be very easy with the further deterioration of the international economic situation. That's why, as I explained to you a little bit earlier, China has always been among those advocate economic cooperation on all the multilateral arena. Now the problem is that there are forces, especially there are forces outside this region, they would like to see the intensification of the situation. They would put at higher priority of the bloc politics rather than economic cooperation in this region. So instead of just looking at specific industry and specific area, we have to make sure that efforts, especially by countries in this region, should be focused on to create a stable and more peaceful, more sustainable environment for the situation. We should work together to prevent any provocative measures by any forces, especially those forces trying to encourage the separatist activities in this region. Indonesia is also a country that used to be a victim of and still under the risk of separatist activities. It's not difficult for Indonesian people to appreciate that.

Host:Right, as you mentioned earlier, the bigger picture is what's needed. So from China's point of view, economics, and the global economy, the health of the global economy is a very important factor to make further steps, Mr. Ambassador?

Ambassador Lu Kang:Yes, we always put at the top priority of the economic development, but to be honest, just like all other countries, when it comes to the core interests concerning one country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, all countries are justified to take any necessary measures to preserve its core interests. That's the case for China, that's the case for all other countries.

Host:OK. Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador Lu Kang, Thank you so much for your time.

Ambassador:Thank you, Khrisna. Have a good weekend.