Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on November 6, 2025

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of the Kingdom of Thailand will pay a state visit to China from November 13 to 17.

People's Daily: To follow up on His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua's state visit to China, could you share with us the arrangement? How does China view its relations with Thailand, and what does China expect to achieve through the visit?

Mao Ning: His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand will pay a state visit to China from November 13 to 17 upon invitation. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang will meet with him respectively. This is the first visit of the King of Thailand to China since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. China is the first major country which His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn officially visits. This fully demonstrates the great importance that the two sides attach to growing bilateral relations.

China and Thailand are close and friendly neighbors and are a community with a shared future. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries, bilateral relations have maintained robust development. The two countries like one family are as close as ever. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the China-Thailand diplomatic relations and "the Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship." Bilateral relations face new opportunities of development. Through the visit, China looks forward to carrying forward the traditional friendship, consolidating political mutual trust, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, achieving greater progress in building the China-Thailand community with a shared future, delivering more tangibly for the two peoples, and contributing to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.  

CRI: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Samoa diplomatic relations. What is China's assessment of the development of China-Samoa relations and what are China's expectations for deepening this relationship in the future?

Mao Ning: Samoa is China's good friend and good partner in the Pacific islands region. To mark the 50th anniversary of China-Samoa diplomatic relations, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Samoa's Head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt respectively. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, over the past 50 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relationship, the two countries have always upheld mutual respect and equality and have firmly supported each other in safeguarding national independence and sovereignty. We've deepened political mutual trust, reaped fruitful results in our mutually beneficial cooperation, expanded cultural and people-to-people exchanges and delivered more benefits to the two peoples.

China attaches great importance to the development of China-Samoa relations. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship, China stands ready to work with Samoa to carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, and advance the China-Samoa comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to better benefit our two peoples.

China and Pacific island countries (PICs) began to establish diplomatic relations fifty years ago, marking a new chapter of friendly cooperation between the two sides. As we open a new historical chapter, China stands ready to continue working with the PICs to build an even closer China-PICs community with a shared future.

Beijing Daily: It's reported that on November 3, the government of Japan announced the 2025 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. Receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, "Taiwan's Representative in Japan" Hsieh Chang-ting said on social media that day he will continue his contributions to the "friendship between Taiwan and Japan". What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: What's Japan up to by conferring orders on those who peddle "Taiwan independence" narratives? Is it an intentional move to embolden "Taiwan independence" forces? What message does Japan want to send to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces?

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and bears on the political foundation of China-Japan ties and basic credibility of Japan. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It is also the 80th anniversary of the restoration of Taiwan. China urges Japan to take a hard look at its responsibility for the war crimes, abide by the one-China principle and the guiding principles of the four political documents between the two countries, be prudent on the Taiwan question, and stop sending any wrong signals to separatist forces for "Taiwan independence."

CCTV: It's reported that defense ministers of the Philippines, Australia, Japan and the United States met together on November 3 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus. They issued a joint readout reiterating their serious concern regarding "China's destabilizing actions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea" and "strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," and reaffirming that "the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award is legally binding." What's China's comment? 

Mao Ning: Certain countries are peddling false narratives on maritime issues and making groundless accusations against China. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose it.

At present, the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea is generally stable. Relevant sides need to respect the efforts of regional countries to handle maritime issues properly through dialogue and consultation and maintain peace and stability, and stop using maritime issues to sow discord and heighten tensions. The "South China Sea arbitration" is nothing but a political farce masqueraded as a legal process and aimed at destabilizing the South China Sea for selfish gains. The so-called "award" is illegal, null and void, and is not binding. China has never accepted or recognized it from the outset. 

The Asia-Pacific is a pacesetter of cooperation and development, not a chessboard for geopolitical competition. Group politics and bloc confrontation will not bring peace and security, and is not conducive to the stability in the Asia-Pacific and the world as a whole.

Reuters: The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that Taiwan must be allowed full and equal participation when China hosts APEC next year. What's China's response? 

Mao Ning: China will actively fulfill its duty as the host of APEC in 2026 and ensure the smooth participation of all sides. On Chinese Taipei's participation in APEC, I've clearly stated China's stance.

Reuters: A senior Fijian diplomat visited Taiwan this week who met with a senior Taiwanese official. This is a very unusual trip given that Fiji only has foreign relations with Beijing. What's China's response?

Mao Ning: China firmly opposes any form of official interactions between China's Taiwan region and countries having diplomatic ties with China. Fiji's relevant official's visit to Taiwan severely violated Fiji's political commitment to the one-China principle. China strongly deplores it and has lodged serious protests with Japan. Taiwan's disgraceful moves will not succeed.

AFP: There are some reports that Donald Trump asked Chinese leader to release Jimmy Lai during their talks last week. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm this or provide any further comment?

Mao Ning: Jimmy Lai is the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the series of riots that shook Hong Kong. The central government of China firmly supports the Hong Kong judicial authorities in performing duties in accordance with the law. Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and brook no interference by external forces.