Lin Jian
Condemned US forced-labor tariffs as an "unreasonable trade war," defended China Coast Guard water cannons against Philippine vessels as "legitimate and lawful," and denied Trump's election-interference allegations as "pure fabrications."
Lin Jian condemned Washington's new forced-labor tariffs on 60 economies as an "unreasonable trade war" and defended the China Coast Guard's water-cannon attacks on Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal as "legitimate and lawful" — the two sharpest exchanges in a week of daily pushback across multiple fronts.
He flatly denied Trump's primetime allegations of Chinese election interference, branding them "pure fabrications," and rejected Secretary Rubio's wrongful-detention designation for American seismologist Youlin Chen, insisting Beijing handles the case under the rule of law. Lin also dismissed Taiwan's push for a $14 billion US arms package as a "dead end" and confirmed China has formally requested Thailand extradite journalist Bai Zhaodong on extortion and bribery charges.
On the Japan track, he contradicted Tokyo's account of a Wang Yi–Motegi meeting in Manila and called Japan's protest over Chinese-Russian drills near Okinotori "groundless." He branded NATO a "Cold War relic" after Secretary General Rutte accused Beijing of helping Russia circumvent sanctions, and warned European governments against endorsing the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award. Lin dismissed Australia's condemnation of China's Pacific missile test as routine training and urged Middle East parties to resume dialogue amid Houthi shipping disruptions. He confirmed Xi Jinping's September state visit to the US remains on track, citing "irreplaceable strategic guidance" from head-of-state diplomacy.
On their plate
Lin condemned Trump's forced-labor tariffs on 60 economies as an 'unreasonable trade war' and flatly denied the president's primetime allegations of Chinese election interference as 'pure fabrications.' He rejected Secretary Rubio's wrongful-detention designation for American seismologist Youlin Chen and dismissed Taiwan's push for a $14 billion US arms package as a 'dead end.'
Lin defended the China Coast Guard's water-cannon use against Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal as 'professional, standard and beyond reproach,' demanded Manila cease infringing activities, and personally attacked Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro as 'one of the most blatant' hostile actors as Beijing sanctioned him and his family. He distanced Beijing from a racist China Daily AI video depicting Filipinos as monkeys while reaffirming the 2016 arbitration award is 'illegal, null and void.'
Lin branded NATO a 'Cold War relic' after Secretary General Rutte accused Beijing of helping Russia circumvent sanctions, and dismissed European intelligence reports of secret PLA training of Russian soldiers as 'completely unfounded.' He warned European governments against endorsing the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award, dismissed Australia's condemnation of China's Pacific missile test as routine training, condemned US sanctions on Cuba, and urged G7 nations to stop using 'small exclusive circles' to disrupt trade after their new critical minerals alliance. He also called for Middle East parties to cease hostilities as Houthis blocked Saudi-linked vessels.
Lin contradicted Japan's account of a Wang Yi–Motegi meeting in Manila, saying no such meeting was planned. He rejected Japan's protest over Chinese-Russian live-fire drills near Okinotori Island as 'groundless,' arguing the feature is a rock not entitled to an EEZ under UNCLOS.
Lin confirmed Xi Jinping's planned September 24 state visit to the US remains on track, saying 'head-of-state diplomacy provides irreplaceable strategic guidance' for the bilateral relationship and that communication between the two governments continues.
Key relationships
Lin flatly denied Trump's primetime allegations of massive Chinese election interference, calling them 'pure fabrications and malicious smears,' and condemned his forced-labor tariffs on 60 economies as an 'unreasonable trade war.'
Lin publicly contradicted Japan's account of a Motegi–Wang Yi meeting in Manila, saying no such meeting was planned.
Lin rejected the US Secretary's wrongful-detention designation for American seismologist Youlin Chen, insisting there is 'no instance of wrongful detention' and China handles the case under rule of law.
Lin rejected the NATO Secretary General's accusations that China helped Russia circumvent sanctions via dual-use goods, branding NATO a 'Cold War relic.'
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