80 European lawmakers urge to declare Chinese ambassador to France persona non grata   

The letter, signed by 80 European MPs, was published by the Parisian newspaper Le Monde on Sunday evening, April 23, 2023.

“Ambassador Lu Shaye asserted publicly that former Soviet Republics lacked effective status in international law, arguing specifically that there is "no international agreement to materialize their status." Such comments go well beyond the boundaries of acceptable diplomatic discourse…Aside from representing a profound insult to the history, culture, and fundamental integrity of the nations concerned, the Ambassador’s words seek to undermine the core principles upon which predictable diplomatic relations depend. It is not for China - or any other nation - to call into question the sovereignty of others. Sovereignty is not a diplomatic plaything, but the indispensable core of international relations, international law, and the United Nations Charter," the letter reads.

The authors of the appeal emphasize that as war rages in Europe as a result of Russia's attack on the territorial integrity of its neighbor Ukraine, “it is imperative that the democratic world deliver an unequivocal message to authoritarian nations in defense of the sovereignty of our allies.”

Read also: Ihor Hulyk. How a Chinese diplomat betrayed the real authors of ‘the peace plan’ for Ukraine. 

At the same time, the letter recalls that“this is not the first time Ambassador Lu has made such scandalous and derogatory remarks. In particular, “he claimed recently that the Taiwanese people should be "re-educated" after coming under Beijing control.”

“In recent memory, the French Government has acted swiftly to expel diplomats who have acted inappropriately. It is therefore with precedent in mind that we call upon you to declare Ambassador Lu Shaye persona non grata immediately as a response to his completely unacceptable behavior. We hope you will take these steps to underscore France's commitment to the central values which unite us not only in Europe but also with like-minded partners elsewhere,” the European MPs summarize.

The letter was signed by:

• Senator Andre Gattolin, France
• Senator Andre Vallini, France 
• Senator Rachid Temal, France
• Rep Constance Le Grip, France 
• Rep Olivier Cadic, France
• Nicola Beer MEP, Vice-President of the European Union
• Reinhard Buetikofer MEP, Chair Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China, European Union
• Els Van Hoof MP, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, Belgium 
• Senator Pavel Fischer, Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, Czech Senate
• Marek Ženíšek, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, Czechia 
• Marko Mikhelson MP, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, Estonia
• Michael Roth MdB, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag
• Rihards Kols MP, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, Latvia
• Zygimantas Pavilionis MP Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, Lithuania
• Antonio Miloshoski MP, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, North Macedonia
• Bogdan Klich MP, Chair, Foreign and European Union Affairs Committee of Polish Senate
• Ivanna Klympush MP, Chair, European Affairs Committee, Ukraine 
• Oleksandr Merezhko MP, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, Ukraine
• Miriam Lexmann MEP, European Union
• Petras Auštrevičius MEP, European Union
• Viola von Cramon-Taubadel MEP, European Union
• Marketa Gregorova MEP, European Union
• Daniel Freund MEP, European Union 
• Malte Gallée MEP, European Union 
• Michael Gahler MEP, European Union
• Daniel Caspary MEP, European Union 
• Andrius Kubilius MEP former Prime Minister of Lithuania, President of Euronest
• Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, MEP, European Union
• Alexandra Geese MEP, European Union 
• Fatmir Mediu MP, Albania
• Fatmir Xhafa MP, Albania 
• Nusret Abdullai MP, Albania
• Greta Bardeli MP, Albania 
• Dhurata Cupi MP, Albania
• Bardhyl Kollcaku MP, Albania
• Blerina Gjylameti MP, Albania
• George Dallemagne MP, Belgium
• Matko Kuzmanic MP, Croatia
• Ermina Lekaj MP Croatia
• Eva Decroix MP, Czechia
• Ondrej Lochman, MP, Czechia
• Hayato Okamura MP, Czechia
• Petr Beitl MP Czechia
• Roman Belor MP, Czechia
• Boris Mijatovic MdB, Germany
• Michael Brand MdB, Germany 
• Tomas Erndl MdB, Germany
• Lia Quartapelle MP, Italy
• Avdullah Hoti MP, former Prime Minister, Kosova
• Dovile Sakaliene MP, Lithuania
• Eugenijus Sabutis, MP, Lithuania
• Giedrius Suprlys MP, Lithuania
• Sjoerd Sjoerdsma MP, Netherlands 
• Tom Van Der Lee MP, Netherlands
• Arta Zendeli MP, North Macedonia
• Andrija Nikolic MP Montenegro 
• Damir Sehovic MP Montenegro
• Kacper Płażyński MP, Poland
• Catalin Tenita MP, Romania
• Nicholas Walder MP, Switzerland 
• Fabian Molina MP, Switzerland
• Mykola Kniazhytskyi MP, Ukraine
• Bogdan Yaremenko MP, Ukraine
• Alyona Shkrum MP, Ukraine
• Oleksiy Goncharenko MP, Ukraine
• Victoria Podgorna MP, Ukraine
• Henry Smith MP, United Kingdom
• Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, United Kingdom
• Baroness (Natalie) Bennett, United Kingdom
• Sir Chris Bryant MP, United Kingdom
• Stewart McDonald MP, United Kingdom
• Sir Stephen Timms MP, United Kingdom
• Layla Moran MP, United Kingdom
• Craig MacKinlay MP, United Kingdom 
• Carolyn Harris MP, United Kingdom 
• Geraint Davies MP, United Kingdom 
• Tim Loughton MP, United Kingdom
• Sally-Ann Hart MP, United Kingdom
• Lord (James) Bethell, United Kingdom