A textbook lesson in diplomacy: how China and Norway overcame their differences
When politics gets in the way, as it did with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 to political activist Liu Xiaobo, diplomacy is the only answer
The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 to Chinese political activist Liu Xiaobo (劉曉波) caused relations between China and Norway to nosedive. Giving the accolade to a critic or opponent of a government is bound to antagonise, the aim being to pressure and shame. Beijing will never take kindly to such interference in its internal affairs and the dissident is still in jail serving the 11-year term for subversion he was sentenced to on Christmas Day in 2009. Last month, though, the nations patched up differences and restored diplomatic and political ties, the visiting Norwegian foreign minister signing a pledge to respect and protect Beijing’s core interests and concerns.
Misunderstandings may be to blame for the breaking of ties. The prize is announced and presented in Oslo, but the award committee is independent of the government. Its members are chosen by the Norwegian parliament, though, and steps have since been taken to further its distance. There was little Oslo could do to please Beijing; it could not apologise for a decision it did not make, nor did it have the authority to rescind the prize.
