China: Beijing slams US missile test as starting new 'arms race'

W/S Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang arriving at press conference in Beijing
M/S Geng at podium
W/S Press
SOT, Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): "Less than three weeks after the US announced its official withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty on August 2, the US Department of Defense launched a ground-launched medium-range cruise missile test previously prohibited by the treaty. This fully shows that the real purpose of the US withdrawal is to seek self-relaxation, to develop its own advanced missiles, and to seek unilateral military superiority. The US test will trigger a new round of an arms race, leading to an escalation of military confrontation, which will have a serious negative impact on the international and regional security situation."
M/S Journalist on laptop *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): "What is happening in Hong Kong, and what the truth is, people will naturally have their own judgment. Why is it that China's official media's presentation is surely negative or wrong?"
W/S Geng at podium *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): "It's reasonable that Chinese media use foreign social media to communicate with people around the world to introduce Chinese policies and 'tell China's story'. I don't know why certain companies or peoples' reaction is so strong. I don't know if it reveals some of their flaws."
M/S Journalist on laptop *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): "It should be clear what the attitude of the 1.4 billion Chinese people is about the current situation in Hong Kong. The attitude of overseas Chinese and students is also very clear. Of course they have the right to express their point of view."
M/S Photographer taking photo *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): "Russian foreign ministry spokesman recently commented on the Hong Kong issue, saying that western countries' interference in China's internal affairs is not only theoretical, but also an unscrupulous deterrent to China. This statement bitingly pointed out the shameful role played by some countries in the violence in Hong Kong, and revealed the real plot of external forces to instil the violence and destabilize Hong Kong. China fully agrees with and highly appreciates this."
M/S Journalist taking off glasses *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): "We once again stress that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, which should not be interfered by any organization or individual of any country. Canada has no right or qualification to arbitrarily discuss Hong Kong affairs."
W/S Press *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): "Currently, China-Canada relations have encountered serious difficulties due to Canada's unreasonable detention of [Huawei CFO] Meng Wanzhou. We strongly urge Canada to deeply reflect on its mistakes, put its right foot forward, and pull back from the brink. Canada should be cautious in its words and actions on issues concerning Hong Kong, otherwise it will surely cause further serious damage to China-Canada relations."
W/S Press conference
W/S Geng leaving as conference concludes
SCRIPT
A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry criticised the US military's recent test of a cruise missile that would have been banned under the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) treaty, saying that it would "trigger a new round of an arms race," in Beijing on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Geng Shuang added that the test showed that the real purpose of the US's recent withdrawal from the INF treaty was "to seek self-relaxation, to develop its own advanced missiles, and to seek unilateral military superiority."
Geng stated that the test would lead to an "escalation of military confrontation, which will have a serious negative impact on the international and regional security situation."
The US formally pulled out of the INF treaty on August 2 after accusing Russia of violating the agreement for years. Moscow denied the allegations.
The spokesperson also attacked the recent move by Twitter to suspend and remove accounts it said were engaged in a "state-backed information operation" criticising the Hong Kong protest movement.
"It's reasonable that Chinese media use foreign social media to communicate with people around the world to introduce Chinese policies and 'tell China's story'. I don't know why certain companies or peoples' reaction is so strong," said Geng.