US kills al-Zawahri: China opposes counter-terror operations at 'expense of sovereignty'

China on Tuesday reacted guardedly to the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a US drone strike in Afghanistan's Kabul, saying it is against all forms of terrorism but at the same time is opposed to "double standards" on counter-terrorism operations and at the "expense of sovereignty" of other countries.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying in a media briefing said her country is firmly against terrorism, is actively involved in the international counter-terrorism operations but at the same time, it believes that there should be no double standards on counter-terrorism .

"Counter-terrorism cooperation should not be conducted at the expense of the sovereignty of other countries," Hua said.

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Al-Zawahiri’s death was announced by US President Joe Biden on Monday. He was killed in a drone strike carried out by the CIA on Saturday evening at a house in Kabul where he was sheltering to reunite with his family.

The 71-year-old Egyptian surgeon, who had a USD 25 million bounty on his head, was Osama bin Laden's second-in-command during 9/11 attacks and took over as the head of al-Qaeda after his death.

Beijing's indirect disapproval of US air strikes in a different territory has come at a time when a fresh row is brewing between the two countries over Nancy Pelosi's 'visit' to Taiwan.