A prominent Chinese academic has issued a stark warning about challenges to Beijing's core diplomatic principle, as tensions flare between Eastern and Western perspectives on sovereignty. Victor Gao, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, compared recent political maneuvers to historical denial laws in Europe during a high-level think tank exchange.
"Just as Germany criminalizes Holocaust denial, the international community must respect China's sovereignty claims," Gao asserted, referencing Lithuania's controversial 2021 decision to allow a "Taiwanese representative office" in Vilnius. The scholar emphasized that such actions "directly threaten regional stability and cross-strait relations."
European participants in the dialogue raised free speech concerns, but Gao countered: "Core national interests transcend abstract principles. When Austria bans Nazi symbols or France prohibits genocide denial, they protect social cohesion – China deserves equal understanding."
The exchange highlights growing friction as Asian nations assert historical narratives in global governance. For investors, the debate underscores the need to navigate sovereignty sensitivities when engaging with China's $18 trillion economy.
