China rejects Palestinian displacement, US tariffs: Foreign ministry

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - China on Wednesday voiced its support for Palestinians’ governing their own territories and opposed any forcible displacement of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.

Answering a question by Rudaw, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Gao Zhikang emphasized that Beijing believes “Palestinian governance of Palestinian [territories] is an important principle that should be upheld in the Gaza [Strip].” 

The Chinese foreign ministry’s statement notably comes after the United States President on February 5 proposed turning Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Donald Trump suggested relocating the Palestinians to a “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land” outside Gaza to facilitate his “long-term ownership” and redevelopment plan for the enclave.

Gao on Wednesday reaffirmed that Gaza is "an integral part of Palestinian territory” and reiterated his country’s support for the rights of the Palestinian people. He further relayed Beijing’s opposition to the forcible displacement of Gaza’s Palestinian population and urged the international community “to play a constructive role in implementing a ceasefire agreement” in the enclave.

Touching on Trump's decision to impose a 25 percent tariff on goods from certain countries, including China, Gao remarked that "trade and tariff wars have no winners.” He added that the US’s “actions seriously violate the rules of the World Trade Organization and severely damage the multilateral trading system.”