U.S. spying on countries, int'l organizations has created furor: Chinese FM spokesperson

(ECNS) -- The news about U.S. spying on countries, including its allies, and international organizations has created international furor, however, this is not the first time that such scandals involving the US have been revealed, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Wang made the remarks following US media reports that the US government eavesdropped on UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s conversations with leaders of countries and other senior UN officials.

"The US says it upholds the role of the UN, yet it has unscrupulously spied on the UN. The US claims itself to be a defender of freedom and democracy, yet it has been the champion of hacking by using cutting-edge technology. The US says it’s important to protect information security, yet it has placed information security traps worldwide," Wang said.

A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday that "We have now officially expressed to the host country our concern regarding the recent reports."

Wang cited the UN spokesperson as saying that "such actions are inconsistent with the obligations of the United States as enumerated in the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations." 

He pointed out that the US owes the international community, especially the UN, an explanation and should take concrete actions to fulfill its responsibility and obligations as the host country of the UN headquarters.