Diplomatic Briefing
Your exclusive news aggregator handpicked daily!Archive for February 25, 2023
Newsline: Chinese officials confronts US diplomat
A diplomat with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with a US consul over remarks lamenting Hong Kong’s future under the Chinese Communist Party. U.S. Consul General Gregory May said that he was concerned about Hong Kong’s status as a business hub without the guaranteed freedoms enjoyed prior to the island’s return to China. “The National Security Law and actions taken by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities may negatively impact company staff, finances, legal compliance reputation and operations,” May said. May went on to warn that “companies should be aware that the risks faced in mainland China are now increasingly present here in Hong Kong.” (https://www.foxnews.com/world/chinese-officials-confronts-us-diplomat-draws-red-lines-hong-kong-speech) May’s comments incensed Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials, who have for years attempted to suppress criticism of their regime’s governance of the island. High-ranking CCP diplomat Liu Guangyuan reportedly met with May after the comments, complaining about the consul’s evaluation of Hong Kong.
Newsline: Iran to handover Afghan Embassy in Tehran to Taliban
The Iranian Foreign Ministry is set to hand over the Afghan Embassy in Tehran to the Taliban, citing unofficial sources reported Khaama Press. Iran will officially hand over the embassy to the Taliban in the coming days according to an Afghan diplomat who has been in contact with the officials of the Iranian foreign ministry. This comes after the Taliban-run foreign ministry stated in a letter that it had appointed Mohammad Afzal Haqqani as designated ambassador to Tehran, reported Khaama Press. The letter noted that Haqqani, as the first secretary of the embassy, will be in charge of the diplomatic mission in Iran. Initially, Haqqani had travelled from Tehran to Kabul and then returned with his letter of appointment as head of the Afghan Embassy in Tehran. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry had not accepted Haqqani as the new ambassador to Tehran, reported Khaama Press. (https://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/World/20230224/4042924.html) Now, a serious decision has been taken in this regard the Afghan diplomat said. The Taliban-run administration has neither internal legitimacy nor international recognition. So far, no single country in the world has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Iran is the third country to join Pakistan and Russia which handed over the Afghan embassies to the group a few months ago.
Newsline: Peru announces return of ambassador from Mexico
Peru’s President Dina Boluarte announced the return of the country’s ambassador in Mexico in response to comments from her Mexican counterpart branding her government as unconstitutional. Boluarte said the remarks made earlier on Friday by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador about her administration go against the international right to non-interference. Mexico’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Boluarte ascended to the South American country’s presidency on Dec. 7 after former President Pedro Castillo was impeached following an attempt to dissolve Congress. Boluarte accused Lopez Obrador of backing Castillo’s attempt at a “coup d’etat.” “With his statements, Mr. Lopez violates the principle of international law about non-interference in internal affairs, as well as those referring to the defense and promotion of democracy,” she said in a television address. Lopez Obrador told a news conference on Friday that Mexico will keep supporting Castillo, as he was “illegally ousted.” (https://neuters.de/world/americas/peru-president-announces-expulsion-mexican-ambassador-lima-2023-02-25/) Boluarte’s remarks come after a meeting between Lopez Obrador and Castillo’s wife, Lilia Paredes, in Mexico earlier this week.
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