China warns US accusations on Internet freedom can harm relations

New Delhi, Jan 22 (ANI): China has urged the United States to respect facts and stop unreasonable accusations in the name of so-called Internet freedom.

Commenting on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said: "The U.S. side had criticized China's policies on Internet administration, alluding that China restricts Internet freedom. We firmly oppose such words and deeds, which were against the facts and would harm the China-US relations."

Clinton on Thursday called for China and other authoritarian governments to lift their restrictions on citizens' use of the Internet, Xinhua reports.

The spokesman defended Internet development in China, saying China's Internet is open, and the country has witnessed the most active development of Internet in the world.

According to the spokesperson, by the end of last year, the number of Chinese cyber citizens had reached 384 million with 3.68 million websites and 180 million blogs.

The Chinese constitution protects the citizens' freedom of speech, and it is a consistent policy of the Chinese government to promote the development of Internet, Ma said.

He added that China has its own domestic situation and cultural tradition, and it is according to the world's common practice that China administers the Internet according to its laws and policies. (ANI)