China supports peace, reconciliation process of Afghanistan: spokesman

China supports the peace, reconciliation and reconstruction process of Afghanistan, said a spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense at a regular press briefing on Thursday, accusing the United States of having an “unshirkable” responsibility for the deteriorating situation in the war-torn country.

Since the United States announced to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, the security situation has increasingly worsened there.

Some foreign media outlets commented that the U.S. retreat of its troops may make China the next major country to try to write a new chapter in the history of Afghanistan.

In response to the remarks, spokesman Wu Qian said that China will continue to uphold the ‘Afghan-led and Afghan-owned’ principle in promoting peace and reconciliation process and peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan.

“China and Afghanistan are traditional friendly neighbors. China will continue to support the ‘Afghan-led and Afghan-owned’ principle, the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and the early peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan,” said Wu.

He also urged the Untied States not to shift its blame on the Afghan issue.

“Since the U.S. announced its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the security situation in Afghanistan has continuously deteriorated. Facts have repeatedly proven that the U.S. is the world’s top mess maker and a world-renowned shirker,” he said.

“As the culprit of the Afghan issue, the United States bears an inescapable responsibility for the current situation in Afghanistan. It cannot just leave the burden on countries in the region. The U.S. should earnestly shoulder its due responsibilities to ensure a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan and avoid unrest and wars caused by its retreat,” said Wu.