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Undiplomatic diplomacy on display

In a dramatic interview on the BBC last night Perth time, a senior Chinese diplomat has blasted the US, telling it to “shut up” over Chinese military spending amid growing criticism.

Chinese ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Sha Zukang, made the following comments:

Are you the number one? Is it true that you have over 50% of world military budget? I mean, China’s population is 6 times, or 5 times that of the United States. Why blame China?! No. Forget it. It’s high time to shut up. It’s the US’s sovereign right to do whatever they deem good for them. But (shouts) don’t tell us what’s good for China! Thank you very much! … … It’s better that the US shut up and keep quiet. It’s much, much better.

The ambassador also addressed the Taiwan question, saying that China would sacrifice the lives of its own people if any country were to support any future Chinese declaration of independence.

At the same time, UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is denying that he called the Bush administration “****” due to its lack of effort on the Israel-Palestine roadmap for peace in a private meeting with MPs recently, at which east London Labour MP Harry Cohen, who reported the comments, was present. When asked, the White House said that the President has been called worse.

What a day for diplomacy!