This week, Chinese authorities asked several Western embassies to remove political messages from outside the buildings, diplomatic sources told AFP.

Several embassies in Beijing raised Ukrainian flags and posters expressing solidarity with the country under attack by Russia, some with messages of support in English and Chinese.

But now several diplomatic sources have informed the news agency France Press agency The Chinese authorities have asked them to remove these. But the embassies refuse and say that they will not change their policy in this field.

According to an employee of the European Embassy, ​​the investigation almost certainly related to the flying of Ukrainian flags. But an employee of another European embassy believes it is not clear whether the request relates to Ukraine or the International Day Against Homophobia. Transphobia Transphobia Fear of transgender people.And Phobia.Phobia.Bisexuality.

Some foreign embassies raised the pride flag on the occasion of the day, which falls on Wednesday, May 17.

“We stick to it strictly,” the official said. Vienna Convention. Vienna Convention.The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Correspondence is an international treaty on diplomatic contact between states and the privileges of diplomatic envoys, in particular their immunity. Source: Wikipedia. So there is no reason for us to respond to this request or change our policy.”

The case was originally reported by Japan’s Kyodo news agency. Beijing said on Wednesday that foreign embassies “have an obligation to respect Chinese laws and regulations.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China encourages embassies of all countries in China… to perform their duties in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations or relevant international agreements.

But although the Vienna Convention stresses that diplomatic envoys are bound not to interfere in the internal affairs of host countries, it does not expressly prohibit political statements on the outer walls of embassies.