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To be honest, the personal image of the EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas is quite good; but what she recently said really feels like nonsense.
On September 4th, during a press conference of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there was such a Q&A.
Reporter: On September 3rd, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that during the commemoration activities, China stood with Russia, Iran, and North Korea, not only opposing the West, but directly challenging the rules-based international order. What is China's comment on this?
Spokesperson Guo Jia Kun: The remarks by the relevant EU officials are full of ideological bias and lack basic historical knowledge. They openly incite confrontation, which is disrespectful to the history of World War II and also harms the interests of the EU itself. It is very wrong and extremely irresponsible. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this.
The anger from China is clear and evident.
It's understandable if an ordinary person lacks historical knowledge, but as the EU Foreign Minister, how could Kaja Kallas say such things?
What did Kaja Kallas say then?
I watched a video.
Kaja Kallas spoke confidently to the reporters, saying: "Russia told China: 'Russia and China, we fought and won World War II, we defeated fascism.' At that time, I thought, 'Okay, that's something new.'
She also said: "When Western leaders gather together to discuss diplomatic approaches, the authoritarian alliance is seeking a shortcut to establish a new world order."
This is truly shocking.
1. Isn't Russia (the Soviet Union) and China a victorious country in World War II? Don't the United States and the United Kingdom say that they defeated fascism?
2. What is an authoritarian alliance? Take a look at the pictures. No matter whether it's Tianjin or Beijing, the guests are all equal and peaceful. Is it the speeches in the White House that are discussing diplomatic approaches?
3. I saw some netizens making fun of it, saying that although Kaja Kallas is the foreign minister of Europe, she probably doesn't even know where Russia, China, and Iran are located on the map.
Naturally, we shouldn't be too surprised that Kaja Kallas said such things.
Kaja Kallas, born in 1977, is Estonian, more accurately, she used to be a Soviet citizen.
After Estonia gained independence, her father became the Prime Minister of Estonia, and later she followed in her father's footsteps, becoming the first female Prime Minister of Estonia, and in late 2024, she became the Vice President of the European Union and the Foreign Minister.
Because of the long-standing tensions between Estonia and Russia, she has always had a strong hostility towards Russia.
But regardless of this hostility, it's your European countries' affair. She projects this sentiment onto China, attacking it in various occasions. Is it fair? Correct? Reasonable?
Prejudice often stems from limited vision; while the prejudice of diplomats can hinder dialogue between countries.
It's frustrating that she is the EU's foreign minister, and China still has to deal with her.
Therefore, two months ago, Wang Yi met with Kaja Kallas, and according to some foreign media, Wang Yi gave her a four-hour history lesson.
What did Wang Yi talk about?
I remember that a very important part was talking about some common sense.
Wang Yi told Kaja Kallas that China's diplomacy adheres to the harmonious genes of Chinese civilization, advocating peace, inclusiveness, and cooperation. In terms of peace and security issues, China is the country with the best record in the current world. China is not the United States, and we should not mirror China's path based on the United States' experience.
He also told Kaja Kallas that Sino-European cultures and histories, values differ, and we cannot consider each other as opponents just because of differences, nor should we seek confrontation due to differences. Currently, Europe is facing various challenges, but past, present, and future do not come from China.
Wang Yi also said that both sides should respect each other, learn from each other, develop and progress together, and make new contributions to human civilization. He hopes that the EU will truly establish an objective and rational understanding of China and implement a more positive and pragmatic policy toward China.
How well said!
China is not the United States. Do not think that if the United States does something, China will do the same.
Europe's past, present, and future challenges are not coming from China.
But two months later, we saw Kaja Kallas publicly denying the history of World War II and mocking China and Russia.
Wang Yi, Wang Yi, you spoke earnestly, but it seems like it was all in vain.
I saw that, regarding Kaja Kallas' remarks, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs not only expressed "firm opposition and strong condemnation," but also used two very weighty idioms.
Which two idioms?
Well, the frog in the well, and the self-important.
Spokesperson Guo Jia Kun's original words were:
As the birthplace of World War II, Europe should have a more profound and correct understanding of history, draw lessons from it, strengthen unity, yet some EU leaders stubbornly cling to Cold War thinking and serious ideological bias, deliberately create confrontation and division. This is not in line with the interests of the EU itself and will further damage the EU's international credibility and influence.
We hope these people abandon the prejudice of the frog in the well and the arrogance of the self-important, establish a correct view of the history of World War II and a rational understanding of China, immediately correct their erroneous statements, eliminate negative impacts, and do more things that benefit world peace and stability and Sino-European relations, rather than the opposite.
What a great example of the prejudice of the frog in the well and the arrogance of the self-important!
The Chinese side did not name anyone, but is it referring to Kaja Kallas?
Finally, how to look at it?
Let me briefly mention three points.
First, some Westerners' prejudice against China is deeply rooted.
Especially the prejudice of the frog in the well, which makes the whole world laugh and cry.
Moreover, this kind of prejudice is filled with the arrogance of the self-important.
Arsenic is the prison of cognition, making one unable to see others clearly and also fail to recognize oneself.
If Kaja Kallas doesn't know where China and Iran are, she probably doesn't understand the story of the self-important either.
Comrade Guo Jia Kun, next time when you use such profound idioms, should you add a note: the two idioms I mentioned, she probably doesn't understand, right, it's like playing the lute to a cow.
Second, some Europeans are really frustrating.
Otherwise, they would not be scolded like a servant in the White House, their faces turning so pale that people feel sorry for them.
But what's funny is that they still praise the United States so much, sometimes actively offering loyalty.
Turn around, they are looking down on developing countries, scolding them, even openly denying the history of World War II.
Is it only in this way that they finally regain a sense of being superior Europeans?
Chinese people often say, do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire!
This double-faced Europe, to be honest, hurts the face of Europe and the interests of Europeans, and also makes the United States look down on them.
True dignity comes from treating others equally; true strength begins with respecting others.
Third, Europe actually has its own visionaries.
We must admit that whether it's Kaja Kallas or Ursula von der Leyen, their external appearance is quite good, and their personal struggles are worth respecting.
However, their statements and actions, especially those related to China, are really unimpressive.
We must also clarify that this is not a statement against European women.
There are many outstanding female politicians in Europe. Merkel is definitely one, she should be the most influential woman in Europe so far; Thatcher may be controversial, but no one denies that she profoundly influenced and changed Britain.
As for Kaja Kallas, sigh, sister in red dress, can you please have a little bit of historical knowledge?
Those who stand in high positions should know the weight and know when to advance and retreat. History does not remember the volume of voices, but only the echoes of truth.
Otherwise, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs would not have used these two idioms: the frog in the well and the self-important.
If I'm not mistaken, this expression is unprecedented. Of course, we have no intention of pointing fingers.
Chinese people still leave room for maneuver.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7546382348770624010/
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