Fierce attack by China on Guilfoyle over Piraeus: You are blatantly interfering in Greece’s internal affairs - When she called you “freeloaders”...

The Embassy of China in Greece reacted strongly through its spokesperson concerning the statements of Kimberly Guilfoyle about the Port of Piraeus.
In response to a question, the embassy emphasized that the new U.S. Ambassador in Athens, in an interview, appeared to encourage Greece to “sell the Port of Piraeus to reduce Chinese influence.”
The Chinese described these statements as “malicious slander against the normal Sino-Greek commercial cooperation” and “a serious intervention in the internal affairs of Greece,” adding that they are “steeped in Cold War mentality and hegemonic logic.”

The detailed response of the Chinese embassy

“The new American Ambassador to Greece, during her interview, launched baseless attacks against the investment and operation of the Port of Piraeus by Chinese enterprises.
This constitutes malicious slander of normal Sino-Greek commercial cooperation and a serious intervention in the internal affairs of Greece.
The related statements, imbued with Cold War mentality and hegemonic reasoning, violate the fundamental professional ethics of a diplomat and fully reveal the deceitful intention of the USA to serve its own geopolitical interests by exploiting the Port of Piraeus and even Greece itself.
China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and categorical opposition.
China and Greece are friends who stand by each other in difficult times and cooperate for mutual benefit.
The cooperation between the two countries is based exclusively on mutual support, without geopolitical calculations; it does not target third parties nor is it influenced by third parties.
When Greece faced the debt crisis, China extended a helping hand, allowing the Port of Piraeus to develop into one of the leading major ports of the Mediterranean and Europe, creating tens of thousands of jobs and offering significant economic benefits to Greece.
The success of the Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeus is not only a model of Sino-Greek commercial cooperation but also a testament to the mutual support of the two peoples during hardships.
In the future, Chinese enterprises will continue to increase their investments and, together with the hardworking and wise Greek people, will contribute to an even better development of the port.
The Port of Piraeus belongs forever to the Greek people; it is not a tool for undermining regional prosperity and stability, and must in no case fall victim to geopolitical confrontation.
At a time when the Port of Piraeus is rapidly developing, America, with self-interested motives, incites Greece to terminate its contractual obligations and sell the port, this practice is a typical example of imposing its own thinking on others and reveals a mentality seeking to undermine stability.
These tricks, which show that America judges others by its own standards and obviously serves its own purposes, are doomed to fail before the Greek people, bearers of millennia of culture and wisdom.
We would advise the Ambassador to seriously reflect on the words and actions with which she had insulted the Greek people in the past, and ensure that her actions align with her role and benefit the Greek people.”

Εκπρόσωπος τύπου της Πρεσβείας της Κίνας στην Ελλάδα
Απαντά σε ερώτηση δημοσιογράφου σχετικά με τις εσφαλμένες δηλώσεις της νέας Αμερικανίδας Πρέσβειρας στην Ελλάδα για την Κίνα

Ερ.: Πρόσφατα, η νέα Αμερικανίδα Πρέσβειρα στην Ελλάδα, Γκίλφοϊλ, σε συνέντευξή της στα ΜΜΕ παρότρυνε…

— Chinese Embassy in Greece (@Chinaemb_Hellas) November 19, 2025

It is worth noting...

It is worth noting that the likeable Kimberly is presented today, generally, as a friend of Greece, she appears to appreciate the country, its culture, and its tradition.
This, of course, applies to 2025, because in 2015 her stance was anything but friendly.

Speaking on The Five on Fox News in 2015, according to numerous reports, she described Greeks as “freeloaders” and argued that they should be punished because they rejected the bailout proposal from the EU, the IMF, and the ECB.
After the referendum result at the time, Guilfoyle called the Greeks “lazy and overly dependent on the government.”
“I mean, nobody likes cigarette lovers,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you make good yogurt. I don’t care.”
“Suck it up,” she continued. “Get up in the morning. Go to work. You retire way too early.
And that is part of the problem.
You have, let’s say, politicians who make uncontrolled promises, buying votes with entitlements they cannot support.”
And she concluded by comparing Greeks to an undisciplined pet, saying that “nobody punishes them,” like when a “dog pees on the carpet.”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Greece respects the agreements

It should be noted that the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lana Zochiou, responding to a question about the statements of Kimberly Guilfoyle, said:

“The Prime Minister himself has stated several times that the Port of Piraeus, 67% of the port, was transferred to the Chinese during the fiscal crisis in Greece, and they were the only ones who submitted an offer.
There is no issue of aligning with the USA as a strategic partner on matters concerning the protection of our common interests.”

“Greece respects the agreements that were concluded in the past, so I don’t think I have anything more to add on that. Secondly, it is obvious that we are open when it comes to investment matters, but this is not something that falls under our authority,” added the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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