China's Ambassador Sparks Outrage in Europe Over Sovereignty Comments

China's efforts to portray itself as a neutral party to help end the war in Ukraine were undermined by Ambassador Lu Shaye's comments questioning the independence of ex-Soviet states. The remarks effectively echoed Russian leader Vladimir Putin's view of Ukraine and other countries that once formed the Soviet Union. The incident has added to recent investor concern over geopolitical risks given that Chinese stock traders were already worried about China-US ties. The episode in part shows China's struggle to balance more assertive diplomacy with the need to project soft power, particularly as the nation's reputation has fallen.