ISTANBUL

China on Monday slammed the claims of “wrongful detention” by the US, noting that Washington “paints a wrong picture” of Beijing.

Beijing’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday creating a new designation for “state sponsors of wrongful detention,” allowing Washington to punish countries that wrongfully detain Americans.

“What has been said by some in the US paints a wrong picture and is ill-motivated. China firmly rejects this,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference in Beijing in response to an inquiry that said China is under review by the US for wrongfully detaining Americans abroad.

“China upholds the rule of law. There is no so-called issue of ‘wrongful detention’ in China. It is well known that wrongful detention, arbitrary detention, coercive diplomacy, long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions are among the US’s favorite tools,” said Lin, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He stressed that Beijing welcomes people and businesses from all nations to “travel and do business” in China, noting that the government “will protect their safety, security and lawful rights and interests… in accordance with the law.”

Separately, in response to a media inquiry on US State Secretary Marco Rubio’s recent announcement on imposing visa restrictions on Central American nationals working with the Chinese Communist Party for "undermining the rule of law in Central America," Lin said that Beijing “deplores” this move.

“The US’s inflammatory finger-pointing at Central American countries’ exchanges and cooperation with China is entirely groundless and shows the US’ complete lack of respect for Central American countries,” he said.

Noting that this move by the US reflects its behavior of “bullying the ‘small guys’ in international relations,” he stressed that it reveals “relevant politicians’ deep-seated ideological bias and Cold-War mentality.”

“China deplores and firmly opposes the US’s baseless vilification, coercive diplomacy, and blatant interference and sabotage against China’s relations with Central American countries,” he added.

The spokesman said that “weaponizing visas” will not hold back “the flourishing ties between China and Central American countries,” adding that Beijing will continue its cooperation with Central American nations.