China Warns Norway Against Peace Prize for Hong Kong Protesters
- Foreign Minister Wang Yi says prize shouldn’t be politicized
- History of strife between Beijing, Oslo on human rights issues
Wang Yi, left, and Ine Eriksen Soreide in Oslo on Aug. 27.
Photographer: Heiko Junge/AFP via Getty Images
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi cautioned against giving a Nobel Peace Prize to Hong Kong protesters as he visited Norway, underscoring the limitations of Beijing’s new diplomatic charm offensive targeted at Europe.
“We don’t want to see anyone politicizing the Nobel Peace Prize,” Wang said during a press briefing attended by his Norwegian counterpart, Ine Eriksen Soreide, in response to a question about Hong Kong’s pro-democracy demonstrations. “In the past, and today, in the future, China will firmly reject any attempt by anyone to use the Nobel Peace Prize to interfere in China’s internal affairs. The position of the Chinese side is rock firm on this principle.”