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Why is China so keen to get involved in Britain and Argentina’s dispute over the Falklands?
- The Chinese foreign ministry recently used the issue to attack British colonialism at the United Nations
- Beijing’s intervention follows increasing UK criticisms of its policies in Hong Kong, which it insists are a strictly internal matter
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Hong Kong and the Falkland Islands, off the southern tip of South America, are thousands of kilometres apart and have little in common other than their colonial past under British rule. And the two are now in rather different situations.
Beijing has been tightening its grip on Hong Kong since the handover in 1997 while Argentina has continued to claim sovereignty over the Falkland Islands – which it calls Las Malvinas – despite islanders voting in a 2013 referendum to remain a UK overseas territory.
While China has little economic interest in or connection to the Falkland Islands, and has repeatedly rejected criticisms of its policies in Hong Kong and Xinjiang as meddling in its internal affairs, it recently spoke out at the United Nations, criticising Western colonialism and renewing its support for Argentina.
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Chinese analysts have told the Post this shows Beijing wants to challenge what it sees as a Western-led global governance and question that through a closer look at historical incidents. However they said this was consistent with its principle of not interfering in other countries affairs.
They also say China is keen to stress its own perspective, which is finding resonance in some like-minded countries.
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