Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming on Monday denounced US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's claim that China's countermeasures over Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region were an "over-reaction." He also refuted Sherman's false remark that in the security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands there is lack of "transparency."

The relevant remarks by the US are nothing but the gangster logic, which confuses black and white and once again exposes the hypocrisy and double standards of the US, Li said, in response to Sherman's remarks during her visit in Solomon Islands. 

Sherman said that they were very concerned about the "over-reaction" and found it disappointing and actually somewhat "irresponsible" for China to suspend discussions around climate change with the US. 

In disregard of China's solemn representations, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brazenly went ahead with her visit to China's Taiwan region, maliciously infringing on China's sovereignty, interfering in China's internal affairs, violating the commitments made by the US, and jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, sending a seriously wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. It is only natural that China should respond resolutely, Li said.

China on Friday announced eight countermeasures in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's highly provocative visit to the island of Taiwan, including canceling China-US theater commanders talk, defense policy coordination talks, military maritime security consultative mechanism and suspending cooperation on illegal immigration repatriation, drug control and climate change. 

Our position is legitimate, reasonable and lawful. Our measures are resolute, strong and proportionate. Our military drills are open, transparent and professional, which are in line with our domestic law, international law and common international practice, with an aim of warning those perpetrators and disciplining the "Taiwan independence" forces, the ambassador said.

The historical ins and outs of the Taiwan question are crystal-clear, so are the facts and status quo that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. It is the US that started the trouble, it is the US that created the crisis and it is the US that continues to escalate tensions, Li said.

China has made utmost diplomatic efforts to avoid such a crisis imposed on China. At the same time, we will never tolerate any activities that are jeopardizing China's core interests and the process of national rejuvenation. We will never tolerate the creation of tension, instigation of confrontation and division in the region, Li said.

The US does not represent the whole world, and China's suspension of climate change talks with the US does not mean the suspension of cooperation with the developing world, Li said. 

In response to Sherman's claim that in the security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands there is lack of transparency, Li said that the security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands is on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit of both sides. It conforms to international law and practice, serves the common interests of the Solomon Islands and Pacific island countries, and is conducive to regional stability and development, Li noted.

On the contrary, the trilateral security partnership dubbed AUKUS among the US, Britain, and Australia is neither open nor transparent, which is widely questioned by the South Pacific island countries and the international communities, and once again proves that the US accusation against China is a "double standard."

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi outlined the principles as fully respecting the sovereignty of the Solomon Islands, helping the Pacific island nation in safeguarding its social stability, and proceeding in parallel with existing regional security arrangements during his visit in Solomon Islands in May.