China denies using citizens overseas to project influence abroad
Senior official says history and contributions of overseas Chinese should be recognised, not ‘slandered or belittled’
Beijing on Saturday denied ever using overseas Chinese citizens for political means, in a fresh rebuke of its Western critics at the opening of its biggest political event of the year.
The central government’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Office – responsible for Chinese citizens living abroad or returning from overseas – defended against accusations that Beijing has tried to project its influence in other countries via its people.
“China has never used its overseas compatriots or overseas Chinese affairs to do anything that would harm other countries’ interests,” Qiu Yuanping, director of the office, told reporters on the first day of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
“We believe that overseas Chinese’s history and actual contributions should be given full recognition, rather than being slandered or belittled.”
Her remarks came as suspicion grows globally about the way China and its ruling Communist Party has exported its influence in other countries.