Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on March 30, 2026

CCTV: This morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs put on its website the decision to take countermeasures against member of Japan's House of Representatives Keiji Furuya. Can you share more information on that?

Mao Ning: The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and a red line that cannot be crossed. China has lodged serious protests with the Japanese side over the visit to China's Taiwan region by Keiji Furuya, member of Japan's House of Representatives. In disregard of China's repeatedly stated position regarding the Japanese leader's erroneous remarks on Taiwan, Keiji Furuya failed to reign in his wrong behavior, and continued to collaborate with "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in taking provocative moves, which constitutes serious interference in China's internal affairs and violation of China's sovereignty and core interests. In response to his egregious moves and in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China, China announced in the form of MFA decree countermeasures against Keiji Furuya as an action of warning and deterrence. China will take any additional punitive measure if deemed necessary in the future.

Anadolu Agency: A UN peacekeeper was killed and another critically injured in Israel's artillery strike in southern Lebanon on the weekend. The UN Secretary-General strongly condemned the incident. What is China's comment?

Mao Ning: China strongly condemns the deadly attack on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. We express deep condolences over the life lost and heartfelt sympathies to the injured. Any deliberate attack on UN peacekeepers is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and UNSC Resolution 1701. Such attacks are absolutely unacceptable and must stop at once. China urges parties to the conflict to deescalate and take concrete steps to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers.

China News Service: It has been just over 100 days since the Hainan Free Trade Port started special customs operations. The world's youngest free trade port has been widely praised for its high-standard performance. Would you like to comment on this and could you share more information?

Mao Ning: The Hainan Free Trade Port is to serve as a key platform championing openness and cooperation and facilitating innovation-driven development. The past 100 days or so since its debut has witnessed some impressive progress. With institutional opening up as the main engine, Hainan has been seeking growth through openness and openness through connectivity, turning into an important economic hub and platform for innovation cooperation in the domestic and international dual circulation. With the implementation of policies such as zero tariffs and low tax rates, Hainan has seen rapid increases in visits, cargo flow and the number of enterprises. On a year-on-year basis, visa-free inbound tourists increased by 54.2 percent; foreign trade grew by 32.9 percent; 737 new foreign-funded enterprises were established, up by more than 30 percent.

The past 100 days or so is just a prelude. As a vivid example of China's institutional opening up, the Hainan Free Trade Port will create opportunities through opening up, meet challenges through innovation, and write new stories of success together with the world.

A Tarde: The Japanese ambassador in Brazil said in a recent interview that Japan is willing to settle its diplomatic strain with China about Taiwan and stabilize the relationship between the countries. Is the Chinese government open to start a dialogue about this issue with Japan?

Mao Ning: The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-Japan relations. Dialogue should be built on the basis of respecting each other and honoring the agreements made. One cannot just talk about dialogue while at the same time eroding the other side's core interests. The Japanese side needs to reflect on and correct its wrongdoings, abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own commitments, and take concrete actions to display sincerity for dialogue.

Global Times: It was reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the Seminar on Promoting Multilateralism and Advancing Arms Control Diplomacy and organized visits to decommissioned nuclear facilities from March 24 to 27. Can you share more information on that?

Mao Ning: From March 24 to 27, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the Seminar on Promoting Multilateralism and Advancing Arms Control Diplomacy in Beijing and organized visits to decommissioned nuclear facilities. Foreign representatives attending the seminar visited a Chinese nuclear company and also traveled to Chongqing to visit decommissioned nuclear facilities. This is an important diplomatic event of China to implement the Global Governance Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, support the role of the UN in arms control, and uphold the international arms control system.

Participating parties had in-depth exchanges of views on practicing multilateralism in arms control, the review conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, governance on emerging science and technology, and developing countries' rights to peaceful use of science and technology. These discussions effectively enhanced mutual understanding on arms control policies, deepened strategic mutual trust, and provided new impetus for the international arms control process.

Anadolu Agency: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar raised the possibility of hosting talks between the U.S. and Iran to end ongoing conflict in the Middle East after a meeting of top diplomats from Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia in Islamabad on the weekend. He said both Washington and Tehran expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks. What is China's position about this possibility of negotiations between the conflicting parties in the Middle East?

Mao Ning: China supports all efforts conducive to easing tensions, deescalating the situation and restoring dialogue. We call on parties to start peace talks as soon as possible. We commend Pakistan's mediation effort for deescalation and support Pakistan in continuing to play its role as mediator. We stand ready to enhance communication and coordination with Pakistan and others to jointly work for a ceasefire and peace and stability in the region.

AFP: Air China has resumed flights to North Korea. I would like to ask the Foreign Ministry when will Chinese tourists be allowed again to travel to North Korea?

Mao Ning: Relevant department has released information on that. China and the DPRK are friends and close neighbors. Resuming passenger flights helps facilitate the friendly exchanges between the two peoples. 

Reuters: The foreign ministers of G7 nations met last week to discuss the situation in Iran and the region. In their statement they urged an immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructures. But in that statement they did not mention calling off attacks on all targets. Does the ministry have any comment on this statement? 

Mao Ning: Military means do not address the fundamental issue. To prolong or escalate the conflict does not serve any party's interest. China opposes attacks on civilians and civilian facilities. Once again we call for an immediate end to military operations and start of peace talks as soon as possible to prevent even worse humanitarian disasters.

Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump said Cuba is "next" after the military operation against Iran; Cuba will fail soon. What is China's comment?

Mao Ning: China stands for respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and opposes violating other countries' sovereignty or interfering in their internal affairs under any pretext. China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and security and opposes external interference.

AFP: This is on Donald Trump's claim that a deal with Iran on ending the Middle East conflict could be reached soon while at the same time not ruling out ground operations as well as more strikes, including ones targeting power stations. Would China's Foreign Ministry like to comment on this?

Mao Ning: The Chinese side has stressed on multiple occasions that a drawn-out conflict serves no one's interest. Starting talks is the only way to avoid more casualties and losses and prevent further spread of the conflict. We once again call on parties to show sincerity, seize every opportunity and window for peace, initiate peace talks as soon as possible, and bring an early end to this war that should not have happened in the first place.

Reuters: A question related to Trump and Cuba. Trump said on Sunday night that he has no problem with a Russian oil tanker off the coast of Cuba delivering oil to the island. Trump said, "if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem, whether it's Russia or not." So our question is, has Cuba already sought oil relief from China and is China willing to help Cuba?

Mao Ning: We urge the U.S. to immediately end its blockade, sanctions and all forms of coercion and pressure against Cuba. China will continue to help Cuba in its own way to the best of its capabilities.

Reuters: The question is about the U.S. senators in Taiwan. We would like to seek a comment on this visit by four U.S. senators who are in Taiwan right now. How does China view the visit coming ahead of the expected visit by Trump to China? Also this morning China has announced sanctions against a Japanese lawmaker. Would China similarly sanction the four U.S. senators? 

Mao Ning: China has all along opposed official contact between the U.S. and China's Taiwan region, and has lodged serious protests with the U.S. side. The U.S. should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, handle the Taiwan question prudently and properly, stop any form of official contact with China's Taiwan region, stop sending any wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and take concrete actions to uphold the overall China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. China's position on issues related to China's Taiwan region is consistent and clear. We will do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Bloomberg: We understand that China has exported cargoes of diesel and other fuels to other energy-starved countries across Southeast Asia over the past week. Was this a sign of support for those economies in the middle of the Middle East crisis? And does China have an update on what it plans to do to support other countries?

Mao Ning: For your specific question, I have no information and would refer you to relevant authorities and companies. Due to the situation in the Middle East, commodities like energy and fertilizers are in short supply in the global market, which has dealt a blow to many countries. China is ready to maintain communication with all sides to safeguard global energy security. However, to resolve the issue once and for all, what should be done first and foremost is to stop military operations.