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.

The Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed, "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," is held in Beijing on Saturday. In the first session, experts and scholars engaged in discussions on the topic, "Exploring the path of great power relations: differences and consensus." In a video speech at the conference, Erik Solheim, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations and former executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said that "we should have a rules-based global order, but with the same rules for everyone."

Solheim said that the 21st century will be multipolar, but it can be a fundamentally unstable century, because there are so many problems which need to be taken into account. In terms of how we can make stability in the 21st century, he noted, "We need a rules-based global order. The concept of a rules-based global order has sometimes been understood, like in the West, as one set of rules for the West and another set of rules for the rest … I hear they say that the sovereignty of Ukraine is sacrosanct, but you cannot care less for the sovereignty of Palestine."

The answer to this Western hypocrisy is not to say we should not have a rules-based global order; it is to say we should have a rules-based global order, but with the same rules for everyone, Solheim stressed.

When discussing how to establish a rule-based global order, Solheim stated, "As the underpinning on[of] this new global order, I will suggest two principles. The first is respect." He then mentioned the "Hehe" culture of China. In today's world, it means that we should have harmony between nations even if they are not the same, but we should work together, Solheim added.

The second principle is dialogue, he said, adding that when there are different views in solving conflicts, bringing economic growth, or creating an ecological civilization, we should have dialogue as to how we achieve that.

"If you base the 21st century on these two principles of respect and dialogue, and if you look to establish a set of global rules which work the same way for all nations and all individuals of this world, then we are on the path to make the 21st century a much better and much more successful time for humanity," Solheim said.