Chinese ambassador to France made a statement that caused an explosion in international circles. He announced a compromising opinion in the heart of Europe, realizing that all the key politicians of the world would know his words within hours. It happened the day after the visit of the Secretary General of NATO to Kyiv. Coincidence? Probably not.
He offended a number of countries
In the context of Ukraine and the conflict with the Russian Federation, the Chinese ambassador announced that a number of countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union do not have sovereignty and an effective status in international law.
In this way, the Chinese official Lu Shaye offended a number of countries at once:
– Lithuania;
– Kazakhstan;
– Estonia;
– Ukraine, etc.
First of all, it is necessary to clarify what exactly “sovereignty” means. It is a combination of two factors:
1. The supremacy of the state on those lands that are part of the country. That is, one government rules all state territories.
2. Independence in relations with other states.
On the first point regarding Ukraine, there may be different interpretations at the moment, because part of the land is occupied. However, before the war started by Russia, the existence of a single public authority was undeniable. If the Chinese ambassador returns to the story with the “legitimate” Yanukovych, it is too petty for a diplomat.
As for independence in international relations, none of the existing countries can demonstrate such a picture. It is simply impossible because economic and political ties have always existed.
Whose Crimea is?
The Ambassador did not ignore the issue of Crimea. He stated that this topic is difficult because initially, the peninsula was Russian. He did not explain what exactly Lu Shaye considers the Soviet Union to be the beginning of.
Are arrogance and diplomacy compatible?
Such a statement by the Chinese ambassador could mean a logical step in response to Stoltenberg’s visit to Kyiv. However, official Beijing recognizes the sovereignty of Ukraine, which is stated in the position “on efforts to restore peace in Ukraine on the basis of international law, goals, and principles of the UN Charter.” What such an arrogant speech will do for Lu Shaye’s career will be known in the near future.
Quick karma
The following countries have already responded to the Ambassador’s words:
– Lithuania. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania noted that this statement could illustrate why the Baltic countries do not see China as a mediator in the settlement of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.
– Estonia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia intends to summon Lu Shaye for clarification on Estonian sovereignty.
In fact, the Chinese Ambassador put the government under attack. It must now somehow officially react to this event. A positive reaction is excluded because it would worsen relations with the West, and a negative one would mean partnership disagreements with Russia.
