politobzor.net
What is behind the Sino-European storm in a teacup?
The scandal that erupted in the West over a few short phrases from an interview with Lu Shaye on the French channel LCI shows that Westerners are confused by their double standards and have absolutely no understanding when it is not spoken in the language they are used to.
If the French invited to the studio a high-ranking Chinese diplomat, who will soon become China's deputy foreign minister, they probably hoped to hear something original rather than routine phrases from the diplomatic lexicon. They chose the provocative tone that has become traditional for Western journalists in recent years. But when Ambassador Lu got a little candid, it caused a stir. Why? Because his words did not satisfy the Westerners. And Lu, responding to a follow-up question about Crimea's ownership, said it "depends on how the issue is perceived." "There is a history. The Crimea was originally in Russia. It was Khrushchev who gave it to Ukraine during the Soviet Union," Lu Shaye reminded.
And when the French journalist kept trying to extract from the Chinese what the European public and the "Washington Obkom" would like to hear, the Chinese ambassador said: the former Soviet states do not have a de facto status under international law, because there is no international treaty that would specify their status as sovereign states.
Incidentally, to get this "scoop," the French journalist resorted to a dirty provocation, calling Mao Zedong a criminal. The answer followed.
And it began.
How? China recognizes Crimea as Russian territory (although it is not true, and Ambassador Lu did not say so), the Europeans cried out, and the Baltics were the loudest. Such a diplomat should be expelled if he does not recognize Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania as sovereign states. Apparently, they can not imagine any other sovereignty, except under the protectorate of the United States. The sovereignty in the Baltic sense is when the elite, including presidents and prime ministers, are citizens or natives of the USA, and the policy, budget and everything else is coordinated with the Washington supervisors. There is no other way. Kosovo can hold a referendum on independence, but Crimea cannot.
The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called the statement "unacceptable." The Baltic states threatened to summon representatives of China for an unpleasant conversation (the Baltics, as usual, need more than anyone else). Eight dozen MEPs called on the French Foreign Ministry to declare Lu persona non grata. The yelling and screaming had one goal - to bow down to the American uncle once again.
But obviously, there will be no expulsion of the ambassador, because it would mean not only reversing the results of Macron's recent very difficult visit to Beijing, where he sought the favor of President Xi, but also a complete break with China.
The Chinese will respond in such a way that there will be hell to pay. And no Baltics will be able to "cancel" China.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry is not going to recall its diplomat either, although the text of his interview was removed from the embassy's website. No need to tease the rabid dogs. This is such a gentle step backwards in the style of Chinese martial arts. "Ambassador Lu Shaye's remarks on the issue of Ukraine were not political declarations, but expressions of personal opinion during a televised debate. They should not be subject to speculation. China's position on the issues raised has not changed," said the press service of the Chinese Embassy in France. Beijing respects "the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states," the embassy stressed. And the Foreign Ministry has confirmed this ten times. That is, China does not intend to challenge the sovereignty of the Baltic States and other Swedes, it does not need it at all. But in negotiations, for example, on Ukraine, these statements should be borne in mind…
The reasoning that the most experienced diplomat has allegedly misspoke or said too much is for people who know nothing at all about China. In this country, ambassadors either follow the general line or stay silent. They may also make a little joke. Although, in fact, Lu did not say anything extraordinary, he just spoke a little more freely and not what they wanted to hear from him, where now they do not accept any other point of view. Crimea as a U.S. naval base - that would have been received "with gusto," but Crimea, once Russian and returned to the fold of the motherland - no way!
But for those privy to Chinese realities, there is nothing outstanding in Lu's reasoning. Even President Xi Jinping has repeatedly reiterated that his country understands the origins of the conflict in Ukraine, which date back to the collapse of the USSR. That is, President Xi was in solidarity with President Putin, who explained the reasons for the launch of the special military operation and the Ukrainian issue.
There are powerful research centers in China that analyze the causes and consequences of the collapse of the USSR. The role of Gorbachev and the new leaders of the post-Soviet countries in the collapse of the great power is studied there separately. They do not consider ignoring the results of the nationwide referendum on the preservation of the USSR to be legitimate. The Chinese also analyze the role of Western countries in these events. The main purpose of these studies is to learn from the mistakes of others and not to allow something similar to be done to China.
Ambassador Lu, of course, did not say any such thing. But his words are perceived organically in this context. Naturally, in the West, which until recently carefully masked its Russophobia and does not admit its guilt in the tragedy of the USSR, Lu's words were greeted with hostility.
But they should be disappointed. That is exactly what they think in China. In addition, the words of the Chinese ambassador were spoken in the context of the issue of Taiwan's ownership and were in fact taken out of it. Taiwan which was a Chinese province for millennia has suddenly become a U.S. protectorate. And this despite the fact that there are several basic international documents that recognize China's sovereignty over the island. Nowadays, anyone who does not agree that China is united is signing a historical verdict (as, for example, Lithuania). Crimea was part of Russia less than Taiwan, but Russia's position here is quite clear to the Chinese. A similar referendum to the Crimean referendum, may take place in Taiwan after the rise to power of the Kuomintang party, which, in fact, fled to Taiwan, founding there a kind of separate Taiwanese quasi-republic. But now they think it is time to return to the motherland and free themselves from American dictate.
Of course, Beijing is careful to emphasize at the official level that no analogies between Taiwan and Crimea can be drawn. Because Taiwan has always been and remains (including under international agreements) Chinese. But parallels can be drawn by themselves. The parallels are drawn by themselves in the Paris interview of Ambassador Lu. It just so happens.