The Chinese authorities called on foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations in Beijing not to use their buildings for “political propaganda”. According to TASS, this was reported on Tuesday by the Japanese agency Kyodo, citing diplomatic sources.
According to the agency, some diplomatic missions in Beijing hang posters on their buildings with words of support for Ukraine, for example, “Stand with Ukraine” (“Together with Ukraine”) in both English and Chinese.
On May 10, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a notice to embassies and international organizations urging them not to use their buildings for “political propaganda” and “avoid provoking conflicts between states.” The ministry said that foreign missions are required to follow Chinese law, while emphasizing that Beijing adheres to the principle of diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Diplomats from Europe and elsewhere reacted “negatively” to the ministry’s request, the agency writes. According to him, presumably, none of the diplomatic missions, on the walls of which such posters hang, have removed them. Among the countries whose embassies hang out pro-Ukrainian posters, the agency names Canada, Germany and Poland. At the same time, the notification, presumably, was sent to all diplomatic missions.
A diplomat from one of the European countries, whose name is not given, criticized the position of the Chinese authorities and said that “there is no reasonable justification for creating obstacles for the state to express its intentions” and that the diplomatic mission does not intend to follow the call of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
