China expresses 'regret and condolences' after death of 17-year-old badminton player in Indonesia

(1 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing - 01 July 2024
1. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at news conference
2. Wide of reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“We also noted this unfortunate news. After learning about the incident, the Chinese Consulate General in Surabaya immediately liaised and coordinated with the Indonesian side to spare no effort in providing medical treatment and swiftly sent staff to the site to handle relevant work. We express our deep regret and condolences over the death of the person involved and extend our sympathies to his family. We will continue to instruct the consulate general in Surabaya to properly handle the follow-up work within the scope of its duties.”
4. Reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“Xinjiang currently enjoys social stability, economic development, ethnic unity, religious harmony and improved livelihoods. The real purpose of the U.S. side's disregard for objective facts and repeated hype-up of lies and fallacies is to create excuses for containing and suppressing China.”
6. Reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:
“I don't know the specifics of the situation you mentioned, but in principle, I can tell you that China is determined to combat drug-related crimes and is willing to engage in international cooperation in this regard.”
8. Wide of news conference

STORYLINE:
China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed “deep regret and condolences” for the death of a 17-year-old badminton player who collapsed on court during an Asian tournament in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta province.

Zhang Zhijie was competing against Japanese player Kazuma Kawano at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships on Sunday when he collapsed and had seizures.

Zhan was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital and then transferred to a main government hospital for better treatment. Both hospitals concluded that the victim had experienced sudden cardiac arrest.

Extending the government’s sympathies to his family, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China's diplomatic mission there was providing the relevant support.

Badminton players and officials in Yogyakarta paid tribute to Zhang by holding a minute of silence on court on Monday morning, ahead of the quarterfinals.

Separately, Mao strongly opposed the latest annual U.S. Report on International Religious Freedom, saying it ignored facts and was fraught with “lies and false information.”

By issuing such a report, the U.S. aims to “create excuses for containing and suppressing China,” Mao argued.

According to the report released last Wednesday, Chinese authorities restrict activities and freedoms of religious followers that it believes threaten the national interest.

Also on Monday, Mao denied any knowledge of Italy’s recent seizure of $678 million worth of synthetic drugs from China, and added the country was “determined to combat drug-related crimes and is willing to engage in international cooperation in this regard.”

An Italian entrepreneur was put under investigation, and two Chinese nationals were arrested in the Netherlands as part of a probe carried out by the European judicial agency, Italian police said on Monday.

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