China rows back after envoy's remarks stoke row; Uproar in Europe | 'Hostile narrative'

On Monday, Beijing insisted it respects the sovereignty of all Ex-Soviet countries. In comments to French broadcaster LCI last week, China's envoy to France said countries that emerged after the fall of the Soviet Union don't have effective status under international law. He said there is not an international agreement confirming their status as sovereign nations. The remarks drew ire in Europe and threw into question Beijing's efforts to position itself as a neutral mediator of the Ukraine war. Lithuania's envoy to India spoke to WION and hit out at China.
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