>China has named one of its most controversial ambassadors to manage its diplomatic relationship with Europe, an appointment that signals a hardening of Beijing’s stance after clashes with the EU over trade and the Ukraine war.
>Former ambassador to France Lu Shaye, who enraged many in Europe in 2023 when he questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet states and whether Crimea was part of Ukraine, had been appointed China’s special representative for European affairs, the foreign ministry said.
>The French-speaking Lu replaced Wu Hongbo, a former Chinese envoy to the UN who is known for his more traditional, conservative style of diplomacy.
>[…]
>Lu is one of the more prominent “wolf warriors” — Chinese diplomats known for aggressive and unapologetic rhetoric — and said on French television in 2023 that “ex-Soviet Union countries do not have effective status under international law”.
>His remarks seemed to undermine China’s President Xi Jinping’s efforts to portray himself as a peacemaker in Ukraine.
>Although Beijing later said the comments did not reflect its official stance, Lu was not publicly punished or demoted, despite protests from Paris and the Baltic states.
>Lu’s appointment came two days after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen used a speech to suggest a new effort to improve relations between Brussels and Beijing.
>China and the EU have been at loggerheads over the Ukraine war and tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle exports and other products, as Brussels tries to reduce a huge trade deficit with the world’s second-largest economy.
>The EU’s 27 member states do not have a unified position towards China — a challenge made more complex by Donald Trump’s election as US president.
>Some EU states want the bloc to take a more hawkish stance towards China, partly as a sop to Trump. But others, many of which have deep trading relationships with China, want Brussels to retain some degree of balance between Beijing and Washington.
>[…]
>Michael Sheridan, author of a biography of China’s president, *The Red Emperor: Xi Jinping and His New China*, said that given the delicate balance of relations with the EU, Lu’s appointment was designed to send a message to Europe that Beijing was willing to play tough.
>“This is a signal appointment,” Sheridan said. “Just as there are rumbles out of Brussels that the EU and von der Leyen might be moderating their pitch towards China, Xi Jinping sends a very hard-edged operator who clearly has his complete confidence.”
>Reuben Wong, deputy head of the political science department at the National University of Singapore, said the appointment was “another example of a more assertive Chinese foreign policy”.
>Lu’s manner reflected a more tough-talking form of Chinese diplomacy that emerged during Trump’s first term.
>“The US says outlandish things, makes outlandish statements” as a negotiating tactic, Wong said. “I think the Chinese are playing that game as well.”
>Despite Lu’s appointment, China’s foreign ministry on Thursday emphasised its openness to a better relationship with Europe. With “the world turning into a less stable and certain place . . . China attaches great importance to its ties with the EU”, it said.
Xi keeps bailing us out. How does God love America so much?
Lu is one of the last Wolf Warrior diplomats left while most of the others have been recalled or demoted. I wonder if this is another shift back to aggressive posturing or if Lu just has special pull with Xi that nobody else has.
morotsloda on
Trump and Xi keep undermining their own countries for the benefit of the other. If that is not true love then I don’t know what is
Zealousideal_Rice989 on
“There is providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children, and the United States of America”
Blueaye on
Rise of China is a mirage in some ways. The CCP would become North Korea rather than sacrifice an inch of power or ideology.
Fatortu on
His comments on Ukraine are the tip of the iceberg. I remember seeing him on TV in 2021 and he’s a true buffoon.
7 Comments
Xi Jinping is not smart.
Archived version: https://archive.fo/gSZXw.
>China has named one of its most controversial ambassadors to manage its diplomatic relationship with Europe, an appointment that signals a hardening of Beijing’s stance after clashes with the EU over trade and the Ukraine war.
>Former ambassador to France Lu Shaye, who enraged many in Europe in 2023 when he questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet states and whether Crimea was part of Ukraine, had been appointed China’s special representative for European affairs, the foreign ministry said.
>The French-speaking Lu replaced Wu Hongbo, a former Chinese envoy to the UN who is known for his more traditional, conservative style of diplomacy.
>[…]
>Lu is one of the more prominent “wolf warriors” — Chinese diplomats known for aggressive and unapologetic rhetoric — and said on French television in 2023 that “ex-Soviet Union countries do not have effective status under international law”.
>His remarks seemed to undermine China’s President Xi Jinping’s efforts to portray himself as a peacemaker in Ukraine.
>Although Beijing later said the comments did not reflect its official stance, Lu was not publicly punished or demoted, despite protests from Paris and the Baltic states.
>Lu’s appointment came two days after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen used a speech to suggest a new effort to improve relations between Brussels and Beijing.
>China and the EU have been at loggerheads over the Ukraine war and tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle exports and other products, as Brussels tries to reduce a huge trade deficit with the world’s second-largest economy.
>The EU’s 27 member states do not have a unified position towards China — a challenge made more complex by Donald Trump’s election as US president.
>Some EU states want the bloc to take a more hawkish stance towards China, partly as a sop to Trump. But others, many of which have deep trading relationships with China, want Brussels to retain some degree of balance between Beijing and Washington.
>[…]
>Michael Sheridan, author of a biography of China’s president, *The Red Emperor: Xi Jinping and His New China*, said that given the delicate balance of relations with the EU, Lu’s appointment was designed to send a message to Europe that Beijing was willing to play tough.
>“This is a signal appointment,” Sheridan said. “Just as there are rumbles out of Brussels that the EU and von der Leyen might be moderating their pitch towards China, Xi Jinping sends a very hard-edged operator who clearly has his complete confidence.”
>Reuben Wong, deputy head of the political science department at the National University of Singapore, said the appointment was “another example of a more assertive Chinese foreign policy”.
>Lu’s manner reflected a more tough-talking form of Chinese diplomacy that emerged during Trump’s first term.
>“The US says outlandish things, makes outlandish statements” as a negotiating tactic, Wong said. “I think the Chinese are playing that game as well.”
>Despite Lu’s appointment, China’s foreign ministry on Thursday emphasised its openness to a better relationship with Europe. With “the world turning into a less stable and certain place . . . China attaches great importance to its ties with the EU”, it said.
Further reading:
https://www.rferl.org/a/china-critical-minerals-russia-weapons-ukraine-2024/33295674.html
https://www.politico.eu/article/united-states-accuse-china-help-russia-war-kurt-campbell/
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/chinas-crude-oil-imports-top-supplier-russia-reach-new-high-2024-2025-01-20/
https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2024/05/behind-the-scenes-chinas-increasing-role-in-russias-defense-industry?lang=en
!ping Europe&Foreign-policy
Xi keeps bailing us out. How does God love America so much?
Lu is one of the last Wolf Warrior diplomats left while most of the others have been recalled or demoted. I wonder if this is another shift back to aggressive posturing or if Lu just has special pull with Xi that nobody else has.
Trump and Xi keep undermining their own countries for the benefit of the other. If that is not true love then I don’t know what is
“There is providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children, and the United States of America”
Rise of China is a mirage in some ways. The CCP would become North Korea rather than sacrifice an inch of power or ideology.
His comments on Ukraine are the tip of the iceberg. I remember seeing him on TV in 2021 and he’s a true buffoon.