France summoned China’s ambassador to Paris, Lu Shaye, on Monday to explain his controversial remarks on French television questioning the sovereignty of post-Soviet nations. The Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, said they would also send Chinese envoys to the three countries to discuss the matter.
China’s Foreign Ministry tried to repair the damage on Monday, insisting it recognizes the sovereignty of all former Soviet republics that have declared independence, including Ukraine.
“China respects the sovereign status of the former Soviet republics after the dissolution of the Soviet Union,” said the ministry’s spokesman, Mao Ning, speaking at a news briefing in Beijing. Asked if Mr. Lu’s comments on Friday represented official policy, Ms. Mao: “I can tell you what I said today represents the official position of the Chinese government.”
He added: “China’s stance on related issues has not changed,” noting that China was one of the first countries to establish relations with all “related countries” after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 .
The recent rhetorical gyrations of Chinese diplomats – including Mr. Lu and Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the European Union – indicate that Beijing is still struggling to strike a balance between courting European leaders and supporting Russia, to which it has declared “no. limit” partnership. The war in Ukraine has put Beijing in a difficult position: It has refused to condemn Russia’s aggression while also promising not to aid Russia militarily in its war.
Mr. Lu caused widespread consternation when asked on French television station TF1 whether Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, was part of Ukraine under international law. He said Crimea was historically Russian and had been ceded to Ukraine. He added: “Even these countries of the former Soviet Union do not have effective status in international law, because there is no international agreement that would indicate their status as sovereign countries.”
Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the European Union, on the other hand, told The New York Times in an interview this month that China does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea or parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, in instead recognizing Ukraine within its international borders, according to Ms. That was on Monday.
But Mr. Fu also said that Beijing did not condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because it understood Russia’s claims about its war being a defensive one against NATO aggression, and because his government believed “more the root causes are more complex” than Western leaders claim.
However, Mr. Lu’s comments caused confusion and anger in Ukraine and the European Union, especially in those countries in Eastern and Central Europe that were under Soviet rule or occupation. The Baltic states, annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II, are especially sensitive to any suggestion that their sovereignty is called into question.
At a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, Lithuania’s foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, said Chinese ambassadors would be asked to explain whether “the Chinese position has changed on independence and to remind them that we are not post-Soviet countries, but we are the countries illegally occupied by the Soviet Union.”
His Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, said he wanted to know “why China has such a position or comment about the Baltic States,” which are all members of the European Union and NATO. The comments of Ms. That is not enough, he said. “I hope there is an explanation. We are not happy with that announcement.”
Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU’s foreign policy chief, called Mr. Lu’s remarks “unacceptable,” as did Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky. Mr. Borrell said Brussels, too, wanted more explanation from Beijing.
Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, called Mr. Lu’s claims a “falsehood” and said efforts were being made to calm things down.
Mr. Lu has been an advocate of a tough-talking style sometimes called “wolf warrior” diplomacy. This is the third time he has been summoned to the French Quai d’Orsay in the past three and a half years.
Christopher Buckley contributed reporting from Taipei, Taiwan. Olivia Wang contributed research.
