Diplomats informed Reuters that China had asked numerous foreign missions in Beijing not to display “politicised propaganda” on their buildings, apparently targeting Ukrainian flags they have exhibited since Russia’s incursion.
After the February 2022 assault, several foreign missions in China raised the Ukrainian flag or exhibited its picture in banners and lights.
“We and others got a letter calling on embassies and representative offices to refrain from using the outer walls of their buildings for ‘politicised propaganda’,” a diplomat whose embassy displays a Ukraine flag told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The ambassador indicated the mission would ignore the notification.
Three other Beijing-based officials corroborated the notification, noting that it was intended for the Ukraine flag.
Not Reuters. China’s foreign ministry didn’t immediately comment.
A Reuters witness saw anti-NATO graffiti on a Ukrainian flag poster on the Canadian Embassy’s external wall weeks after Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
The EU, Britain, Germany, and Poland missions in Beijing have hoisted Ukrainian flags.
They didn’t react to inquiries. Nevertheless, western nations have criticized China for calling for peace in Ukraine without denouncing its partner Russia.
To celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia on Wednesday and LGBT Pride Month in June, some Beijing embassies are flying rainbow flags.
China, which rights groups have criticized for restricting LGBT advocacy, did not instantly protest similar displays.
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