GOOD MORNING FROM LONDON
The Falklands has become an issue between China and the UK following a meeting in Beijing between President Xi Jinping of China and President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina which produced a statement calling for Argentina to be given “the full exercise of sovereignty” over the land known to the UK as the Falklands and known to the Argentine as Las Malvinas.
UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, completely rejected any questions over the sovereignty of the Falklands. The Chinese Embassy in the UK responded and said that China’s position on the Malvinas had been consistent stating “We firmly support Argentina’s legitimate claim to full sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands. China has always advocated that territorial disputes between countries should be resolved through peaceful negotiations in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We hope that the UK will respond positively to Argentina’s request, start dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible and find a peaceful, just and lasting solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.”
The talks in Beijing between China and Argentina will trigger increased tensions between China and the UK following the UK’s diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics and the AUKUS deal that provides Australia with nuclear submarines.
Speaking at a UN session on decolonisation in June 2021, China’s UN representative called for an end to all forms of colonialisation. Using words that will stir the passions of the UK tabloid media, representative Geng Shuang said “Today in the 21st Century, the days when Western colonialists had free rein are long gone” adding that “colonial thinking, power politics and bullying” should end.
Argentina claims it inherited the islands from Spain in 1767 and their invasion of the islands in 1982 was defeated by a British task force. Mao Tsetung said in 1947 that international politics oscillates between conflict and cooperation. As between China and the UK, will we see more conflict and less co-operation?
Graham Perry
NEXT POST – 9 FEBRUARY 2022
