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CHINA MEETING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Norway and discussed current issues with Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB scanpix
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MANAGER
China’s Foreign Minister’s warning to “politicize” the Nobel Peace Prize is a reminder of Norway’s humiliating obligations to China.
Manager: This is a Dagbladet editorial and expresses the views of the newspaper. Dagbladet’s political editor is responsible for the editorial.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi visited Norway and discussed current issues with Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide. Topics include Norway’s place on the UN Security Council, human rights, and handling of the corona pandemic. It is not known exactly what came out of the talks. On the other hand, we know that Wang Yi is on tour in Europe to improve China’s reputation and diplomatic relations. Internationally, China is battling the effects of the crackdown on Uighurs, the new security law in Hong Kong, the US trade war, and its aggressive behavior in disputed areas in the South China Sea.
Is in this In perspective we will understand what Wang Yi said about the Nobel Prize at a press conference in Oslo. According to the Foreign Minister, China “will reject any attempt to politicize the Nobel Peace Prize and intervene in China’s internal affairs.” He then added: “China’s attitude on this is rock hard,” according to the Aftenposten minutes.
In itself is the statement both absurd and meaningless. De-politicizing the Nobel Prize is impossible. It is one of the most political awards that exist. It was an underlying message that the man from China wanted to convey. He warned Norway against awarding the award to individuals or institutions that are perceived as hostile by Chinese leaders. The award of the Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama in 1989 and the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in 2010 sparked outrage and a freeze in relations between Norway and China.
After prolonged In attempts at reconciliation, Norway chose in 2016 to make a knee-jerk reaction to China. In an agreement, the Solberg government advocated full acceptance of Chinese views. Norway now recognizes China’s political system and interests and vows to refrain from actions that undermine them. These interests are defined by the leadership of the Chinese party, which thus determines Norway’s room for maneuver. It’s no wonder the document is called the Sovereignty Agreement.
The Savior against the prince of darkness
The Chinese The Foreign Minister’s statements on the Nobel Prize are a reminder of these humiliating obligations. The government sees a different path because it has chosen to prioritize trade goals and a free trade agreement with China. Here the government is successful. Trade in 2019 was 114 billion, an increase of 25 percent. The fact that repression and human rights violations are also increasing dramatically has a lower priority. Despite the fact that these values have a central place in Norwegian foreign policy. There is a word for it: hypocrisy.
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