In response to US Senator Rick Scott's claims that Chinese garlic poses a "major threat" to US food security, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Friday dismissed the remarks as absurd, noting that such statements have become a source of ridicule among Chinese netizens.
"It is believed that Garlic probably has never imagined it could pose a major threat to the US," Mao said at the press conference on Friday.
She pointed out the growing trend of the US labeling Chinese products—from drones and cranes to refrigerators and garlic—as "national security risks," while emphasizing that none of the so-called evidence and reasons cited by the US could withstand scrutiny.
Mao pointed out that it was clear to all that such actions were merely a pretext for the US to pursue protectionism, abuse state power to suppress and contain China's development, and push for decoupling and disruption of industrial and supply chains.
She emphasized that overgeneralizing the concept of national security and politicizing or weaponizing economic, trade, and technological issues would only exacerbate global supply chain risks, ultimately harming others and themselves.
Mao also advised certain US politicians to exercise more common sense and rationality to avoid becoming a laughingstock.
