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ChinaDiplomacy

China hits out at Western ‘colonialism’ as it backs Argentina’s claim to Falkland Islands

  • Chinese diplomats ‘retaliate’ for British ‘meddling’ in Hong Kong by restating support for Buenos Aires over the islands, which are also known as Las Malvinas
  • Argentina’s invasion force was defeated in 1982 and the islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain as a British overseas territory

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China has consistently supported Argentina’s claim to the Falklands. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Kinling Lo

China has hit out at the Western “colonial mindset” as it restated its support for Argentina’s claim over the British-ruled Falkland Islands at the United Nations.

Its statement comes at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and London, including criticisms of China’s crackdown in Hong Kong and alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, called for all forms of colonialism to end as he spoke at a session of the Special Committee on Decolonisation on Thursday.

Argentina is trying to use the session to resume negotiations with Britain over the sovereignty of the islands, which are known as Las Malvinas in Spanish and voted overwhelmingly to remain as a British overseas territory in a referendum in 2013.

Geng said China “firmly supports Argentina’s sovereignty claim on the Malvinas” and called for Britain to “actively respond to Argentina’s request” to start dialogue.

Argentina’s invasion of the islands in 1982 was repulsed by a British expeditionary force. Photo: AFP
Argentina’s invasion of the islands in 1982 was repulsed by a British expeditionary force. Photo: AFP
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