Authorities in the Chinese capital Beijing have asked several Western embassies to remove political signs, such as Ukrainian flags, from their exterior walls.
Several representations of European countries received a message from the Chinese authorities this week asking them to remove political messages, the AFP news agency learned today from diplomatic circles. According to the report, the foreign missions concerned do not want to comply with the request.
The embassies of several Western countries in Beijing are displaying the Ukrainian flag as a sign of solidarity in the country’s fight against Russian invasion. Some embassies also have messages of support in English and Chinese.
Also rainbow flag attached
Some of the embassy buildings in Beijing also displayed the rainbow flag in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) celebrated today.
An official at a European embassy said the request by the Chinese authorities was almost certainly related to the prominent display of the Ukrainian flag. However, an official at another European embassy said it was unclear whether the request was related to Ukraine or the rainbow flag.
Beijing refers to the Vienna Convention
Responding to the reports originally published by the Japanese news agency Kyodo, Beijing said foreign embassies have “the obligation to respect Chinese laws and regulations”. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also referred, among other things, to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, envoys have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of their host countries. However, it does not specifically prohibit the posting of political signs on the outside walls of embassies.
An official at a European embassy in Beijing said they were “strictly adhering to the Vienna Conventions”. There is therefore no reason to respond to the request.
