China says it respects ex-Soviet states’ sovereignty after envoy sparks outrage

“China respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries and upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” Mao insisted on Monday.

“After the collapse of the Soviet Union, China was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with relevant countries.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell branded the remarks “unacceptable”, adding in a tweet the EU “can only suppose these declarations do not represent China’s official policy”.

And Beijing on Monday distanced itself from Lu’s remarks – while also defending its claimed neutral stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China has always adhered to the principle of mutual respect and equality to develop bilateral friendly and cooperative relations,” Mao said.

“Some media misinterpret China’s position on the Ukrainian issue and are sowing discord in relations between China and relevant countries,” she added, warning “we will be vigilant about this”.

Lu’s comments last week sparked a wave of outrage across Europe, leading the EU’s three Baltic countries to on Monday summon China’s envoys to explain the remarks.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis wrote on Twitter that “if anyone is still wondering why the Baltic States don’t trust China to ‘broker peace in Ukraine’, here’s a Chinese ambassador arguing that Crimea is Russian and our countries’ borders have no legal basis”.

Lu has previously acknowledged being part of the so-called “Wolf Warrior” class of Chinese diplomats, a nickname given to those who respond vehemently to critics they perceive as hostile to China.

In January 2019, as ambassador to Canada, he accused the North American country of “white supremacy” for calling for the release of two Canadians detained in China, days after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States.

And last August he sparked outrage by suggesting Taiwanese people would need to be “re-educated” following a Chinese takeover of the self-ruled island.