China stated it “respects” the independence of the previous Soviet Union states and that its place is “unchanged,” after the nation’s diplomat to France sparked a firestorm in Europe by questioning their sovereignty.
“China respects the standing of the previous Soviet republics as sovereign international locations after the Soviet Union’s dissolution,” Mao Ning, Overseas Ministry spokeswoman, stated Monday at a daily press briefing in Beijing.
Her remarks got here days after Chinese language Ambassador Lu Shaye informed French community LCI that ex-Soviet states don’t have sovereign standing as impartial nations — an announcement that ignored internationally acknowledged borders, and which brought about anger amongst Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and others in Europe.
These three nations stated they’d summon Chinese language diplomats of their capitals to clarify the remarks. High EU diplomat Josep Borrell referred to as the feedback “unacceptable.”
The Chinese language Embassy in France posted a transcript of the interview on its official WeChat account Monday morning, however by noon had eliminated it. Mao stated she was unaware of the scenario.
Mao added that China has developed “pleasant and cooperative bilateral relations” with the previous Soviet nations since establishing diplomatic ties with them, including that some media retailers are “misrepresenting” China’s place on Ukraine — although she didn’t title any particularly. She stated the nation stands by Lu.
Lu appeared to contradict China’s official stance, which acknowledged the independence of the Baltic states in 1991. President Xi Jinping has additionally reaffirmed their standing, writing earlier than a go to to Kazakhstan final yr that the 2 nations supported their “respective sovereignty.” He additionally cited Uzbekistan’s “independence” in one other assertion across the identical time.
Final week, Chinese language Overseas Minister Qin Gang stated in a speech in Shanghai that “China sees defending the authority of the United Nations and upholding the post-war worldwide order as its solemn obligation.” He added that his nation had suffered “among the many heaviest casualties on the earth” throughout World Warfare II.
The controversy threatens to undermine Beijing’s efforts to be seen as a peacemaker for Russia’s struggle in Ukraine, particularly given how a lot China already has touted its ties with Moscow.
Learn Extra: Why China, Russia’s Greatest Backer, Now Says It Needs to Dealer Peace in Ukraine
Xi appeared to have been making inroads on the peace efforts. He held a go to earlier this month with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has pushed for establishing a framework that could possibly be used as a foundation for future negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva additionally lately visited Xi in China, and has been extra politically aligned with Xi on the difficulty of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Monday, Mao, the international ministry spokeswoman, stated China is “able to facilitate” peace in Ukraine.
Tensions had been brewing between China and Jap Europe earlier than the ambassador’s remarks.
China-Lithuanian ties have been souring for some time, with Beijing imposing measures in opposition to the Baltic nation’s items after a dispute across the naming of a Taiwan commerce workplace there. EU-initiated instances in opposition to China which can be associated to these restrictions at the moment are with the World Commerce Group.
Final yr, Latvia and Estonia additionally joined Lithuania in abandoning the so-called 16+1 japanese European framework with China, which as soon as threatened to divide the European Union in its relations with the Asian nation.
—With help from Colum Murphy.
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