The Chinese ambassador to France has questioned the independence of the former Soviet republics, which has sparked strong reactions from European countries. China’s efforts to increase its credibility as a mediator for peace between Russia and Ukraine have been undermined.
Ambassador Roh Sano said in an interview with French news channel LCI broadcast on the 21st that some former Soviet states do not have valid state status under international law.
Asked if he considered the Crimea peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, to be part of Ukraine, Roh said, “There is no international agreement to realize its status as a sovereign state.”
After this remark, the three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia announced their intention to call the Chinese ambassadors stationed in their respective countries and ask for an explanation.
France’s foreign ministry said it was “disappointed” by Roh’s remarks. “The Chinese side has not yet said whether the statement reflects China’s position, but I hope it is not an official position,” he said.
The Chinese embassy in France and China’s foreign ministry did not respond to inquiries from Bloomberg News outside normal business hours.
Original title:Fury After Chinese Envoy Says Ex-Soviet States Not Sovereign (1)(excerpt)
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2023-04-23 16:07:00
