On Tuesday May 2, Micheál Martin, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence, of the Republic of Ireland, and leader of the Fianna Fáil party, delivered a major speech at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin on the question of his country’s relations with China.
Whilst acknowledging that this relationship is valued, and highlighting the €34.5 billion in two-way trade as well as “enduring links in education, in culture and in tourism,” Martin echoed a number of European politicians, as well as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in calling for ‘de-risking’ Ireland’s ties with China. The financial news service Bloomberg noted that, in so doing, Martin had positioned Ireland in opposition to the recent call by French President Emmanuel Macron for a more constructive relationship with China. According to the Irish Times, Martin stated:
“We must be clear-eyed about China’s strategic objectives and about what these might mean for the European Union and Ireland.
“Ireland’s message on human rights will remain consistent, whether in relation to Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, or elsewhere – China has an obligation to act in a manner that ensures full respect for the rule of law.”
He further called on China to use its “considerable influence” to end Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
Responding to the speech, the Chinese Embassy in Ireland said that it had “taken note of the positive elements… that Ireland values its bilateral relationship with China and wants to work constructively together with China; that Ireland reaffirms it adheres to the one-China policy,” but continued:
“Regrettably, the speech over-exaggerated the differences between China and Ireland and emphasized the concept of ‘de-risking’ with China. It also made misleading comments on China’s stance on current international hot issues and made groundless accusations against China on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, interfering in China’s internal affairs.”
Stressing that it disagreed with the concept of ‘de-risking’ and the idea that differences in worldview would “inevitably shape” the way the two countries viewed one another, the Embassy noted that: “The tremendous development of bilateral cooperation between China and Ireland over the past more than 40 years has fully demonstrated the fact that China and Ireland share extensive common interests, the convergence of our views far outweighs our differences, and our cooperation far outweighs our competition.”
On the Ukraine crisis, it said that: “China always stands on the side of peace. Its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace. China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis.”
Regarding the Taiwan issue, the embassy stated that, “just as ‘no one group can have a veto on Ireland’s future’, no one can have a veto on Chinese people’s aspiration and determination to achieve national reunification.”
It added that “a lot of international friends who have been to Xinjiang said that what they saw with their own eyes in Xinjiang is completely different from what has been portrayed by Western media. We welcome Irish friends from all walks of life to visit Xinjiang and find out the true picture there, instead of being misled by Xinjiang-related lies.
Towards its conclusion, it invoked the words of the late John Hume, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in the north of Ireland, and an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, which recently marked its 25th anniversary:
“Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth, and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.”
We reprint below the full text of the statement. It originally appeared on the website of the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Ireland.
Question: On 2nd May, Micheál Martin, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, delivered a speech mainly on China and China-Ireland relations. What is the Chinese Embassy’s comment?
Answer: We have taken note of the positive elements of the speech that Ireland values its bilateral relationship with China and wants to work constructively together with China; that Ireland reaffirms it adheres to one-China policy.
Regrettably, the speech overexaggerated the differences between China and Ireland and emphasized the concept of “de-risking” with China. It also made misleading comments on China’s stance on current international hot issues, and made groundless accusations against China on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, interfering in China’s internal affairs.
The speech stated the differences between China and Ireland in worldview, interests and values “will inevitably shape how we engage with one another.” It also underlined the so-called “de-risking” with China. We disagree with this framing. The tremendous development of bilateral cooperation between China and Ireland over the past more than 40 years has fully demonstrated the fact that China and Ireland share extensive common interests, the convergence of our views far outweighs our differences, and our cooperation far outweighs our competition. China-Ireland cooperation in various fields, especially bilateral trade and economic ties, has brought to Ireland tangible benefits rather than “risks”. To simply define China-Ireland relations with fundamental “differences” or “risks” not only contradicts the positive elements within the speech, but also denies the achievements of China-Ireland relations and turns back on a brighter future for this relationship.
On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace. Its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace. China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to the crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China would not sit idly by, nor would it add oil to the fire, still less exploit the situation for self gains. China hopes all parties would seriously reflect on the Ukraine crisis and jointly explore ways to bring lasting peace and security to Europe through dialogue. China will continue to facilitate talks for peace and make its efforts for early ceasefire and restoration of peace.
The UN Charter has laid out important principles such as respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. Taiwan’s return to China is an important part of the post-war international order. The one-China principle is the political foundation and prerequisite for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with any other country, including Ireland.
The real status quo of the Taiwan question is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. Taiwan is part of China. China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has never been split. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese ourselves. No foreign forces should try to interfere in the Taiwan question or expect China to make any concession on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity under external pressure.
The fundamental cause of tension across the Taiwan Strait in recent years is the “Taiwan independence” forces on the island engaging in separatist activities with the support and connivance of external forces. Separatist acts for “Taiwan independence” are as irreconcilable with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as fire with water. Just as “no one group can have a veto on Ireland’s future”, no one can have a veto on Chinese people’s aspiration and determination to achieve national reunification.
If the Irish side truly wants to see the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, it should unequivocally oppose “Taiwan independence” and any forms of external support or connivance for “Taiwan independence” separatist activities.
The Xinjiang-related issues are not issues about human rights at all, but about combating separatism, extremism and terrorism. Xinjiang once suffered deeply from separatism, extremism and terrorism, which seriously endangered the safety and property of the people there. It is the inescapable duty and responsibility of any responsible government to protect its people’s happiness and tranquility.
The people in Xinjiang are in the best position to tell the world what the human rights conditions are like there. And a lot of international friends who have been to Xinjiang said that what they saw with their own eyes in Xinjiang is completely different from what has been portrayed by Western media. We welcome Irish friends from all walks of life to visit Xinjiang and find out the true picture there, instead of being misled by Xinjiang-related lies.
Mutual respect, equality and the approach of seeking common ground while reserving differences are the basis for developing relations between countries. The great Irish politician John Hume said, “Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth, and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.” We hope that the Irish side will respect the facts, discard prejudice, and view China and China-Ireland relations in a more objective and rational way.
I am from Vancouver,Canada and i wanted to say that the Irish Govt don’t care about their own country. In 1921 the Irish Gov’t in Dublin allowed the British Occupying Forces to take the six Counties of Northern Ireland in return for the rest of Ireland becoming Independent. Since then the British Forces in Northern Ireland with the help of the Unionists have caused Havoc and Death in Northern Ireland right up to the present time without any interference from the Dublin Gov’t. To say that that the Irish Gov’t don’t care about their own people in Northern Ireland is putting it mildly.
I would hardly expect the Irish Gov’t to have good relations with China when they allows Britain to occupy Northern Ireland without saying a word about it.I imagine if England allows Ireland to have good relations with China it will happen.
Thank you FOSC, for this storying of the China Ireland relationship. It was good to learn that the Chinese Embassy in Dublin responded in a well informed and firm way to Deputy Prime Minister Tánaiste’s somewhat biased storying of the relationship; it should be noted that his perspective is in sharp contrast to that of the two Irish members of the EU Parliament who recently took the trouble to tour China and talk to Chinese people within their homelands.