My Take | A Chinese controversy Argentina can do without
- Foreign Minister Diana Mondino said ‘Chinese people are all the same’ after her Beijing visit; it’s unclear what she meant by it
It’s not the kind of attention Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino would want from the press. After her “we are open for business” visit to Beijing, now back home, she was caught saying, “Chinese people are all the same.”
It seems the Argentine media and opposition have been more riled than the Chinese themselves. Former presidential hopeful and leftist opposition leader Juan Grabois has called her a “racist” on X.
“Not the money, the pearls or French perfume, the credentials, degrees or positions, nothing can erase the ignorance of a racist, it’s a disease of the soul,” Grabois’ post read.
“Her statements would be disgusting if she were a simple citizen, but as a foreign minister they become unusually serious.”
Well, was it a diplomatic faux pas or was she quoted out of context, as she claimed?
The unfortunate remark was part of her reply to a question about a high-profile inspection last month by multiple government agencies of China’s deep space station and observatory in Neuquén province. Washington has repeatedly claimed the signals-monitoring station – which plays a key role in China’s moon-focused Chang’e programme, including the current Chang’e 6 mission – may have a dual use such as spying.