Beijing criticizes report by Harvard graduates

Beijing called a report by Harvard graduate students that claimed that China was using debt to gain political advantage "very irresponsible" and based on stereotypes.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a news conference on Tuesday that the report's authors "are turning to the mode of thinking they are familiar with to guess the Chinese government's thoughts and stance in its foreign assistance and cooperation".

The report, from graduate students of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Policy Analysis, claimed China uses strategic debt to gain political leverage with economically vulnerable countries across the Asia-Pacific, according to a news report on The Guardian.

China has been sticking to the principles of consultation, contribution, shared benefits, mutual respect and win-win cooperation when conducting financial cooperation with other countries, Lu said.

"Only the governments and people that have such cooperation with China have the most right to comment on the specific effect of the cooperation," he said, adding that others should stop guessing what China thinks through the stereotype they believe in.