Photo: fr.china-embassy.gov.cn

On Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in France praised and strongly supported the patriotic actions of the Chinese community in France, who demonstrated unwavering commitment to defending China’s national dignity. This followed protests by Chinese diaspora organizations against the Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Paris for refusing to display the Chinese national flag during the Paris Olympics.

According to a statement released by the embassy on Tuesday, the Chinese diaspora organizations including the French branch of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification and de l’Association Franco-Chinoise de Commerce (AFCC) held a colloquium and issued a statement in response to the incident. Association Chinoise des Agences de Voyages (ACAV – France) also issued a statement, expressing deep concern and strong condemnation of the hotel’s action. 

In their statement, the Chinese community in France stated that the actions of the Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Paris, which was owned by a Taiwan-based company, not only seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese diaspora but also offended the national dignity of China. 

More than 50 leaders of the Chinese diaspora organizations also signed a signature wall, jointly expressing their strong dissatisfaction with the incident and their firm commitment to defending China’s national dignity, the statement said, noting that the Chinese Embassy in France highly praises and firmly supports the patriotic actions of the Chinese community in France. 

There is only one China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. We believe that as long as Chinese people at home and abroad unite, promote the spirit of patriotism, and work together for the greater national interests, the just cause of the realization of complete national reunification will surely be achieved, the embassy said in the statement. 

Global Times