In the wake of escalating violence between ethnic Serbs and NATO peacekeeping forces in Kosovo, China has voiced its support for Serbia's endeavors to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This stance was expressed by a representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, on Tuesday. The ongoing conflict in Kosovo has deep historical roots and has strained relations between China and NATO.
China's criticism of the NATO alliance dates back to the 1999 air war, when NATO intervened to halt Serbia's brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanian rebels in Kosovo. During this intervention, Beijing's embassy in Belgrade was bombed, resulting in the deaths of three Chinese journalists. The Chinese government has utilized this tragic event to fuel anti-Western sentiment. The United States apologized for the strike, attributing it to intelligence failures. Nevertheless, this incident has cast a shadow over Sino-American relations, leading to increasingly strained ties in recent years.
China, along with Russia and Serbia, does not recognize Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008. Mao Ning, speaking on behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, placed the blame for the violence on the disregard for Serbian political rights. Despite recent instances of Serbian boycotts of local elections and efforts to prevent ethnic Albanian mayors from assuming office, Mao argued that Serbs should be granted power over municipalities where they constitute the majority. The tensions reached a boiling point when Serbs attempted to seize control of a municipality in northern Kosovo, resulting in a riot and injuries to at least 30 members of KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in the region.
Mao urged NATO to demonstrate sincere respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of relevant countries, emphasizing the importance of actions that promote regional peace. In a bid to garner support for his policies, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic planned to meet with the Russian and Chinese embassies. Despite Serbia's formal withdrawal from the region following NATO's military intervention in 1999, the conflict in Kosovo continues to be a significant source of tension in Eastern Europe.
Adding to the concerns about regional stability, last year, Serbia, a Russian ally, discreetly received an advanced Chinese anti-aircraft system. This move raised apprehensions in the West, as it coincided with fears of a military buildup in the Balkans during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The delicate balance in the region remains a subject of global attention and apprehension.
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