Chinese State Media Posts Mocking Video of Pompeo... 'Counterattack' to US Criticism

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Starting with the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at 3 p.m. local time on the 21st, China has begun its week-long Two Sessions (CPPCC and National People's Congress) schedule, responding with a tough stance to show resilience against continued pressure from the United States.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 21st, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the CPPCC, strongly refuted the U.S. claim that COVID-19 originated in China during a press conference held the previous day, stating, "Some American politicians are trying to shift responsibility by claiming the COVID-19 virus came from China, but their attempts will fail."

Chinese broadcaster CGTN posted an animated video in the form of a game titled 'Pompeo Credibility Test' on Twitter, portraying Secretary Pompeo, who has been attacking China, as a ridiculous figure. The content conveyed the message that his various attacks on China have not gained trust from the international community.

Regarding U.S. interference in cross-strait (China-Taiwan) issues, various Chinese departments have stepped forward to express dissatisfaction. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized in a statement, "U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referred to Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen as 'President' and praised Taiwan as a 'reliable partner,' which violates the One-China principle and interferes in China's internal affairs." The ministry also expressed strong indignation and serious regret over Pompeo's unusual congratulatory statement on the inauguration of the Taiwan president. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense also pointed out that "The actions of the United States interfere in China's internal affairs and severely damage the development of China-U.S. bilateral and military relations, which is very wrong and dangerous."

The focus on the announcement of this year's Chinese defense budget, to be revealed during the National People's Congress meeting on the 22nd, reflects the tense situation in U.S.-China relations. Despite China's economy contracting by 6.8% in the first quarter due to the COVID-19 impact, forecasts suggest that the defense budget will continue to increase this year. This is driven by voices calling for strengthening national defense amid intensified U.S. pressure.

A survey conducted by the state-run Global Times among nine military experts regarding this year's defense budget showed that, excluding three who answered "unpredictable," more than half of the remaining six predicted an increase. Three experts expected a 3% rise to 1.22 trillion yuan, while one expert anticipated a 5-6% increase to 1.25 trillion yuan compared to last year. Citing military experts, the newspaper reported, "China faces additional defense threats from Western countries led by the United States," and "In the complex situation where the U.S. is provoking China around its periphery (Taiwan Strait, South China Sea), China needs to increase its defense budget and strengthen its military power."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.