Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday that a meeting between Chinese and US defense chiefs requires a suitable atmosphere, and communication must be guided by principles.

The spokesperson made the remarks at a regular press conference on Thursday when asked whether the absence of a meeting between the defense chiefs of the two countries at the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Plus will affect communication with the next US Secretary of Defense. He was also asked about China's position on military dialogue between the two countries, under the background that there are occasional voices from the US side urging for military dialogue between the two countries.

Wu said that China maintains clear principles for developing military relations between China and the US, which are that China's sovereignty, dignity, and core interests are inviolable. Meetings require a suitable atmosphere, and communication must be guided by principles. 

The US side should not present a posture of seeking dialogue while knowingly engaging in actions that harm China's core interests, Wu said. "Don't they have s any self-awareness in their hearts?" he asked.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the regional government have rebutted the groundless attacks and malicious slanders against various aspects of Hong Kong in a so-called resolution passed by the European Parliament on Thursday. The Commissioner's Office slammed the move as "a poorly staged political farce," while the SAR government said it will not be threatened by such barbaric and despicable acts.

The response followed the European Parliament's adoption of three resolutions on "human rights issues" in China's Hong Kong region, Iran and Cambodia on Thursday.

According to a press release from the European Parliament, the resolution said Hong Kong must "immediately and unconditionally" release all "pro-democracy" figures sentenced on national security charges, including Jimmy Lai and Chung Pui-Ken.

The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR on Friday slammed the "erroneous" resolution for openly interfering with the judicial proceedings of national security cases in the region, smearing the NSL and disparaging the rule of law and human rights situation in Hong Kong.

"The European Parliament's act is a blatant interference in China's internal affairs, which trampled on the spirit of the rule of law," a spokesperson for the Commissioner's Office said, calling it "a poorly staged political farce that is completely unacceptable."

A HKSAR spokesperson said on Thursday that many common law jurisdictions, including the US, UK and Canada, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security, adding that the European Parliament has turned a blind eye to facts, demonstrating typical despicable political manipulation and hypocrisy.

The European Parliament resolution was passed after 45 people convicted of "conspiracy to subvert the state power" were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 50 months to 10 years in Hong Kong earlier this month, including former legal professor and instigator of the Hong Kong unrest Benny Tai Yiu-ting. It was the first case of subversion of state power in Hong Kong.

Dominic Lee Tsz-king, legislative council member of the HKSAR, told the Global Times on Friday that the individuals were convicted for violating laws, and the sentences were determined through a fair legal process, which is a manifestation of the rule of law; in contrast, it is the "unconditional release" proposed by the European Parliament that harms it, Lee said.

Regarding the resolution's suggestion to impose sanctions on SAR officials, the SAR government said it despises the so-called sanctions and will not be intimidated by such barbaric and despicable acts.

As for calls to revoke Hong Kong's favorable customs treatment, Lee said this challenges the principles of international trade, which could harm global economic interests, including those of European businesses.

Hong Kong and the EU are important trading partners. The total value of bilateral merchandise trade reached HK$510 billion ($65.5 billion) in 2023. "Any malicious acts that undermine mutually beneficial relations would harm the interests of the EU and its companies," the SAR government said.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the latest move by the European Parliament reflected the institution's inherent arrogance, hypocrisy, and double standards in its understanding of China.

"It's another attempt to undermine Hong Kong's governance and rule of law, and weaken its significant position in the global trade and financial system, which will undoubtedly complicate China-Europe ties," Li told the Global Times.

China strongly condemns and firmly rejects the wanton and provocative action that Lithuania's Foreign Ministry, without any reason, declared relevant diplomatic personnel of the Office of the Chargé d'Affaires of China in Lithuania "persona non grata" and demanded that they leave the country within the time required, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday.

As many are aware, on issues concerning China's Taiwan region, Lithuania has been acting in serious violation of the one-China principle and breached the political commitment Lithuania made in the communiqué on the establishment of China-Lithuania diplomatic relations, according to the spokesperson of the ministry.

This has caused severe difficulty for bilateral ties. Three years on since the downgrade of bilateral ties with China, Lithuania has again taken detrimental action that further exacerbates the relations.

China calls on Lithuania to immediately stop undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stop creating difficulty for bilateral relations. China reserves the right to take countermeasures against Lithuania. 

We hope the upcoming new government of Lithuania will follow the prevailing international consensus, abide by the one-China principle, and foster conditions for the normalization of China-Lithuania relations, according to the spokesperson.

Relations between China and Lithuania soured after the Baltic state allowed the island of Taiwan to open its so-called representative office in Lithuania in 2021, which China called a blatant violation of the one-China principle and international rules. China later downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania to the level of chargé d'affaires.

Lithuania's incoming prime minister said he's open to restoring diplomatic relations with China three years after a trade dispute led to Beijing downgrading its ties with the Baltic nation, according to a Bloomberg report.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday at a regular press briefing that China also noted that a new Lithuanian government is about to be formed and several political leaders have expressed their desire to improve relations with China.

The Chinese side hopes that the new Lithuanian government will take concrete actions to abide by the political commitments made in the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adhere to the one-China principle, and promote the return of bilateral relations to the right track, said Lin.