China's top legislature protests China-related content in U.S. defense act

A spokesperson for China's national legislature on Saturday voiced strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the China-related content of a new U.S. defense act.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, adopted on Dec. 23 local time in the United States, includes a number of provisions related to China that recklessly manipulate issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, groundlessly discredit China's development path, grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermine China's sovereignty, security and development interests, said You Wenze, spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress.

The U.S. side has made serious commitments on the Taiwan question in the three China-U.S. joint communiques. It has no right to place its domestic law above international law, let alone interfere in China's internal affairs, You said.

Any attempts to use Taiwan to contain China or support the separatist forces for "Taiwan independence" will only further escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait and undermine the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, You said.

No foreign country has the right to interfere in Hong Kong and Xinjiang affairs, which are China's internal affairs, You added.

"We strongly urge the U.S. side to abandon the zero-sum Cold War mentality and refrain from implementing the negative China-related provisions in the relevant act," You said.

You warned that the U.S. side should not underestimate China's firm will and strong ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It should avoid taking risks on issues concerning China's sovereignty and core interests.

Any provocation that attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs and undermine China's interests will be met with firm countermeasures, You said.