Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s: China is appalled by the U.S. sanctions on the Palestinian Authority (PA) and (PLO)

CCTV: On July 31, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) because they take actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel such as through the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, continue to support terrorism including incitement and glorification of violence and provide payments and benefits in support of terrorism. The U.S. said it is in their national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable. What’s China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: China is appalled by the U.S. sanctioning officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). We find it disappointing and hard to understand that the U.S. keeps turning a blind eye to the international effort for peace. The question of Palestine lies at the heart of the Middle East issue. It is a matter of international fairness and justice. As the Palestinian question is at a crucial historical juncture, the international community, the U.S. in particular, should uphold justice and fairness, take on responsibility, earnestly implement relevant U.N. resolutions, and make an active effort for the proper settlement of the question rather than do the opposite.

China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, the PA’s effective jurisdiction over all of Palestine’s territory, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Palestinian question on the basis of the two-State solution. China will continue to work with the international community to make relentless efforts for that.