The Facts
China's ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, came under fire this weekend after questioning the sovereignty of former Soviet states in an interview on French television.
When asked if he considered Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, a part of Ukraine, Lu said that, "under international law," former Soviet Union countries like Crimea lack "effective status ... because there’s no international accord to concretise their status as a sovereign country." He then said the issue of Crimea was complex and depended on one's position, mentioning that, "Crimea was originally part of Russia."
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
China was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with former Soviet countries. Its position has been clear and consistent since the start of these relations; China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and upholds the principles of the UN charter. China's position on Ukraine has been objective and fair, and it is willing to work with the international community to play a role in creating a solution to the current crisis.
Anti-China narrative
The comments from Lu Shaye are unacceptable and threaten the security of Europe. These words go beyond the norms of diplomatic discourse and should be vehemently repudiated. France must take immediate action to declare Lu a persona non grata and send him back to Beijing.
