China tactical positioning over former USSR countries

In an interview for the French LCI network recently, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye replying to the question by the interviewer said former Soviet countries don’t have “effective status in international law”. This bombshell declaration unnerved many countries especially Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Though apparently it appears to be a casual remark the undertone of the statement cannot go unnoticed. The snide was intended for Ukraine to take stock of the situation.

On the one hand Putin often challenges the concept of Ukraine as a sovereign state claiming it as part of Russia due to latter’s history, culture and Orthodox Religion. In fact Kiev was originally Kiev Russ where the spirit of Russia originated centuries ago. On the other hand, there is no international concord entered into by Russia with former members of USSR.

Due to the uproar arising consequent to the ambassadorial comment China's foreign ministry tried to calm the situation by saying China respected the independence of all post-Soviet countries. Chinese Embassy in Paris also mulled that this statement by the Ambassador is of personal nature and does not reflect the official position. But nothing on sovereignty!

Yet, the sting of the tongue cannot be dismissed at all. The Ambassador stated by way of expressing soberly his opinion that the issue of sovereignty is not clear cut, and that countries such as Ukraine could not rely on international law to defend their sovereignty.

The legal opinion would however, favour his position as the one he elucidated "Even these former Soviet countries don't have an effective status under international law because there is no international agreement under international law to concretise their status as sovereign countries."

It is abundantly clear that China is delivering a message and a nuanced threat to all those countries that were former members of USSR that China reserves the right to treat them as illegitimate entities should they join USA in recognising Taiwan as an independent country.

This tactical positioning by China is indeed classic business manoeuvre in geoeconomics. Former members of USSR need legitimacy on one side and growing economic relationship with China on the other. None of these countries would ever try to side with Taiwan even though America continues to arm twist them to annoy China!

 

Cheers! 

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist