Do you know what China is struggling with these days? They’re trying to court European leaders while also being BFFs with Russia. It’s a tough balancing act, folks. But don’t worry, they’ve declared a “no limits” partnership with Russia, so they’ve got that going for them.
The war in Ukraine has really put China in a pickle. They don’t want to condemn Russia’s invasion, but they also don’t want to help them out militarily. It’s like trying to avoid getting dragged into a food fight in the cafeteria, but still wanting to sit with the cool kids.
Recently, a Chinese diplomat named Mr. Lu caused quite the commotion when he was asked about Crimea on French TV. He basically said that Crimea has always been Russian and that it was handed over to Ukraine. He also mentioned that countries from the former Soviet Union don’t really have any international status as sovereign countries. Wild stuff.
But then there’s Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the European Union. He told The New York Times that China doesn’t recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea or parts of Ukraine’s eastern region. So, what’s the deal here, China? Make up your mind!
Mr. Fu also mentioned that China hasn’t condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine because they think it’s a defensive war against NATO encroachment. Plus, they believe that the root causes are more complicated than the Western leaders say. Hey, we’re not here to judge. But maybe next time, give us a heads up before you get all wishy-washy on us.
All of this has caused quite a stir in Ukraine and the European Union. Eastern and Central European countries, especially those that were under Soviet rule, are feeling pretty sensitive right now. The Baltic nations, in particular, are not happy about any insinuation that their sovereignty is in question. Can’t say we blame them.
So, what have we learned today? China is trying to be friends with everyone, but it’s not going so well. Diplomats should probably have some talking points before going on TV. And Eastern Europe is feeling a bit triggered right now. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Serious News: nytimes
