Beijing | China denounced Wednesday the “intimidation and hypocrisy” of Europeans, after the summons of its ambassadors in several countries following the sanctions taken by Beijing against parliamentarians and organizations.
“China does not accept this unreasonable way of certain European countries to summon its ambassadors,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.
During their summons, the Chinese ambassadors “clearly stated the position” of their country and “solemnly protested to the Europeans,” she said.
After the Netherlands the day before, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania lectured on Tuesday the representatives of Beijing. Belgium and Italy were to do the same following the sanctions taken by Beijing against 10 MEPs.
The Chinese regime has responded to the imposition of sanctions by the EU against four Chinese officials for the repression of the Muslim minority of Uyghurs in the autonomous region of Xinjiang (northwest). By a game of mirrors, she also summoned several European ambassadors stationed in Beijing.
“The Europeans allow themselves to defame and attack others and arbitrarily impose sanctions based on false information and lies, but they refuse to let China respond and retaliate,” Hua said.
“It’s double standards, two measures, an example of intimidation and hypocrisy,” she hammered.
The most spectacular outbreak of fever occurred in Paris where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs severely lectured Ambassador Lu Shaye on Tuesday, accusing him of “insults, invective and threats” against a researcher, Antoine Bondaz, and French parliamentarians who intend to travel to Taiwan, the island claimed by Beijing.
“These methods of intimidation are unacceptable and cross all the limits commonly accepted for an embassy”, thundered Paris.
Asia specialist at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), Mr. Bondaz was described as a “small strike”, “mad hyena” and “ideological troll” in a statement from the Chinese embassy.
When questioned, Ms. Hua in turn criticized the French specialist.
“We expect France to curb the researcher in question and ask him to stop spreading rumors and defaming China,” said the Beijing spokeswoman.
The Chinese ambassador in Paris did not immediately go to the convocation of French diplomacy on Monday, citing agenda issues.
“Our ambassadors have their own agendas,” Ms. Hua defended.
In contrast, the EU’s ambassador to Beijing, Nicolas Chapuis, had to go late Monday to a summons from the Chinese Foreign Ministry following the announcement of sanctions by the European Union.