A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen.
The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.”
It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan.
Photo: Screen grab from Berlingske’s Web site
After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang demanded to know what the members of Taiwan’s representative office were doing at the event, and that they leave or he would protest, the daily said.
“The behavior sent shock waves through diplomatic circles in Denmark,” it said.
Hung Pu-chao (洪浦釗), deputy director of the Center for Mainland China and Regional Development Research at Tunghai University, said that Wang’s behavior showed a lack of respect for diplomatic protocol, and was a raw display of China’s “wolf warrior diplomacy.”
The Chinese ambassador was turning a celebratory event into a stage for his ideological cause, Hung said.
The incident not only offended Denmark and Japan, but also highlighted Beijing’s contempt for international norms and diplomatic civility.
China is increasing its pressure on international society, particularly on the Taiwan issue, the article said, adding that Wang appears to be playing an important role in pressuring Copenhagen.
Verbal attacks on liberal media is one of the tactics of the Chinese government, but the incident in February has shown that Beijing is willing to break diplomatic norms when it comes to Taiwan, it said.
Although the Japanese embassy declined to comment on the incident, it confirmed that the Taiwanese representatives were invited as they had been in previous years, the Berlingske reported.
People attending the event told the newspaper that Wang’s outburst was rare at diplomatic events, and several people said they believed he was trying to make a show to impress his superiors in Beijing.
The Japanese host did not agree to the demand, and Wang left the event, the article said.
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