FM Spokesman on 15 North Koreans into German School

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, September 06, 2002

FM Spokesman on 15 North Koreans into German School

Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman Kong Quan held a regular press conference Thursday in Beijing and answered questions concerning anti-terrorism, mideast situation, Iraq issue, Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi' visit to DRPK and 15 North Koreans' breaking into German school in Beijing.

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Q: Has the problem the 15 North Koreans broke into the German school been solved? Does the school belong to German territory or the Chinese territory?

A: First of all, this is a school, not a foreign mission in China and secondly, the problem is being solved appropriately.

Q: With regard to the problem of North Koreans' break into the German school, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder hopes to have it solved quickly and satisfactorily. Prior to this, the Chinese side expressed to solve the problem in a humanistic way. How is the Chinese side going to deal with it?

A: I've taken note of what Chancellor Schroeder said about it. Just now I've already dealt with it. The Chinese and German sides have already reached an agreement as how to handle it appropriately and now it is being carried out in line with the consensus reached. The principled stand on the Chinese side, which should be very clear to the reporters often taking part in press conferences, are mainly the following three: first, China is a country governed by the law and things must be done according to the law. So we will handle the problem in accordance with the relevant Chinese law and regulations; secondly, we'll deal with it in line with the international law and thirdly, in our handling of the problem attention will be paid to humanitarianism.

Q: Just now, you said that the Chinese feel happy in doing good to others, in which you've provided the illegal North Korean trespassers with food and work. Could you explain in detail the concrete Chinese policy towards the illegal North Korean trespassers? How many trespassers are there in total?

A: Do you think that we know their exact numbers since they are all illegal trespassers? But one point we can say it for certain is that they trespassed into China due to economic troubles. Between China and Korea there extends a long borderline. They entered China for a living and I should say that the Chinese government and people adopted a very good and lenient attitude in the matter. We often see from the TV screen that some developed countries resort to strict measures in expatriating the trespassers back to their own countries. However this hasn't taken place in China. I told you at the last press conference that among the trespassers in our hands one of them has crossed the border for 12 times. I don't know whether he is a record-setter. Perhaps, somebody else may have done more than that.

Q: The Chinese side holds that the North Korean border-intruders are illegal. However, they say they are the political refugees not due to economic reason. More and more North Korean people try to get into the ROK or other countries by way of China. Do you have a way out for putting an end to the problem?

A: For many a time, I have made clear the Chinese stand on the problem. First of all, we don't like such trespassing cases to happen. Since these trespassers want to make a living in China due to economic reasons we've given them a comparatively lenient treatment. But we firmly oppose that they, being already illegal intruders in China, are going to do again things in violation of the Chinese law under the instigation of others.

Q: Whether the German school into which the North Koreans intruded belongs to the German territory? Whether it is under the protection of the "Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations"? Has the problem been solved by the Chinese and German sides so far?

A: Since it is a school it's, of course, not a diplomatic mission. In the "Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations" there is a clear definition on diplomatic missions. The German international school does not fall into the category of a diplomatic mission nor does it enjoy the diplomatic privilege and exemption. As how to deal with such problems already happened the Chinese side has always been handling the similar cases of suchlike in conformity with the domestic law, the international law and in a way of humanitarianism. I believe that the problem can be solved quickly. In point of fact, the German and Chinese sides got in touch of each other very soon afterwards and have reach consensus on it, which is now being carried out.

By People's Daily Online

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