China urges neighbour Kyrgyzstan to resolve election turmoil
- Foreign ministry spokeswoman says Beijing is resolutely opposed to ‘external forces’ intervening amid protests against poll
- Instability next door to sensitive Xinjiang Uygur region may make Beijing nervous, says scholar
“China sincerely hopes that all parties in Kyrgyzstan will properly resolve issues through dialogue and consultation,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, adding that China hoped stability would be brought to Kyrgyzstan’s situation “as soon as possible”.
She said China “firmly supports Kyrgyzstan maintaining independence” and resolutely opposed “external forces’ interference in Kyrgyzstan’s internal affairs”.
Thousands gathered in the capital of Bishkek on Monday with protesters alleging vote rigging. Hundreds have been injured, and one protester was reportedly killed.
Some protesters stormed Kyrgyzstan’s parliament building and set fire to the office of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who has been in office since November 2017.
Sunday’s parliamentary vote in the Central Asian country was invalidated on Tuesday but no new election dates have been set and demonstrations continued.
China has joined the European Union, Russia and the United States in calling for a peaceful resolution to the situation, although Beijing and Washington also warned that there should be no foreign interference in the country.
“We call on all of Kyrgyzstan’s neighbours and international partners to refrain from violating its sovereignty during this delicate moment in its national history,” the US embassy in Bishkek said on Twitter on Wednesday.