China demands US explanation on phone tapping

BEIJING - China said Thursday it is gravely concerned over reported US tapping of phone calls in China and has demanded an explanation from the United States.

"We have made representations to the US side, and we demand the US side to clarify and explain itself on this matter," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.

"We urge foreign missions in China and their employees to strictly abide by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and other international conventions, and not to engage in any activities incompatible with their duties and status that may hurt China's national security and interests," she said.

Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to a question asking for her comment on a report that the United States has about 80 intelligence collection sites worldwide, including in China, where US embassy and consulates in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu are engaged in phone tapping. It was also alleged that some intelligence officers use their diplomatic status as a cover.

She added, "A healthy and steady Sino-US relation is beneficial not only to the two countries, but also to the stability and prosperity of the  Asia-Pacific region and the whole world."

China and the United States must work together and faithfully observe the mutual agreement to build a new type of relations between major powers defined by non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation in handling every aspect of Sino-U.S. relations, the spokeswoman said.