Three Baltic countries summon Chinese ambassadors and demand clarification
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs “Respect for Sovereignty” Evolves
China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye (pictured), drew criticism from Europe for remarks that questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet states. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stepped forward by stating that it respects the sovereignty of all former Soviet states.
According to the AFP news agency and CNN broadcasting, Ambassador Lou’s remarks about the problem came out in an interview with France’s LCI broadcasting on the 21st. When asked if Crimea, which was forcibly annexed by Russia in 2014, is Ukrainian territory, he said, “The question is not that simple.” I do not have a position,” he said.
Ukraine and the Baltic states, which belonged to the Soviet Union, strongly opposed it. The three Baltic countries summoned the Chinese ambassadors to their respective countries and demanded an explanation. Besides the former Soviet Union, France and the European Union also expressed their regrets. A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry stressed that Russia’s forcible annexation of Crimea was illegal under international law, saying, “After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine was recognized as a new member state by the international community, including China, for its territory including Crimea.”
In the end, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on the 24th, “We respect the status of sovereign states of the former Soviet Union countries.” revealed
Hong Kong Baptist University political science professor Jean-Pierre Cabestin told CNN, “Ambassador Lou is already a well-known provocateur.” Earlier, in 2019, when Ambassador Lu was serving as Ambassador to Canada, when North America demanded the release of two Canadians detained in China, he was controversial by saying “white supremacy.”
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Ambassador Lou’s remarks damaged the efforts of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was trying to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table through dialogue with China.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.