China’s ambassador to France insists that the Taiwanese must be ‘re-educated’
After reunification, secessionist thoughts must be erased from their minds, this according to Lu Shaye, echoing Beijing’s repression in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The Chinese envoy is no stranger to controversial statements.
Paris (AsiaNews) – The Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, has reiterated that the people of Taiwan will have to be "re-educated" once the "rebel" province is reunited with mainland China.
In the second interview in a few days to a French channel, the Chinese envoy criticised US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent Taiwan visit.
Following the official line of his government, Lu justified his country’s response, which has been holding vast military exercises around the island for the past six days.
Speaking to LCI TV, Lu said the re-education of Taiwanese is necessary because Taiwanese authorities have "indoctrinated and intoxicated" the population with an anti-Chinese education.
According to the senior Chinese diplomat, “secessionist thoughts and theories” must be erased from the minds of the island's inhabitants.
Despite being a functioning state, Communist China considers Taiwan one of its own provinces to be retaken.
The current military exercises are meant to simulate a military blockade of the island and a possible invasion, which for many experts could be attempted within five to seven years.
The Taiwanese are increasingly hostile to reunification with the mainland, given the democratic nature of their government.
Lu's language is reminiscent of that used by Chinese leaders to defend the mainland’s policies in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
In the autonomous province, Beijing is accused of genocide against the indigenous Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslim groups, whilst in the former British colony it is seen as oppressing and silencing the pro-democracy movement.
Lu is no stranger to controversial statements. In February 2021, he sent a letter to Senator French Alain Richard warning him against travelling to Taiwan in the summer of that year. The move led to a harsh response from the French Foreign Ministry in Paris.
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07/10/2021 17:59
24/11/2020 13:35
