In an official reaction, China hailed the killing of Osama bin Laden, calling it a "major event" in the fight against terrorism. However, in the next breath, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu defended its ally Pakistan from criticism that it has done little in the battle against terrorism. "Pakistan stands at the forefront of the international struggle against terrorism," Reuters quotes Jiang as saying. "The Pakistani government's determination to fight terrorism is staunch and its actions have been vigorous. Pakistan has made important contributions to the international struggle against terror. China will continue staunchly supporting Pakistan developing and implementing its own anti-terror strategy based on its own national conditions."