France, Baltic states dismayed after China envoy questions Ukraine sovereignty

After China’s envoy in Paris questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet nations like Ukraine, France and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania voiced shock.

In an interview that was carried on French television on Friday, when asked about his opinion on whether or not Crimea is a part of Ukraine, Chinese ambassador Lu Shaye stated that historically it was a part of Russia and had been offered to Ukraine by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

Because there is no international agreement to actualize these nations’ sovereign status, Shaye continued, “These former USSR countries do not have actual status in international law.”

France responded on Sunday by expressing its “full solidarity” with all the affected allies, which it claimed had achieved freedom “after decades of oppression”.

“On Ukraine specifically, it was internationally recognized within borders including Crimea in 1991 by the entire international community, including China,” a representative for the foreign ministry said.

The representative continued by saying that China would need to clarify whether or not these remarks represented its position.

The three former Soviet Union member states of the Baltic region responded similarly to France.

A request for comment from Reuters was not immediately answered by the Chinese foreign ministry.

John Irish and Ryan Woo’s reporting, Juliette Jabkhiro wrote the article, while Hugh Lawson edited it.