China demands Britain hands over the Falklands to Argentina

China has demanded that Britain hand over the Falkland Islands to Argentina and is calling on countries to give up ‘colonial thinking’ – while Beijing continues to threaten Taiwan with invasion.

China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, accused the UK of playing “power politics” by keeping the Falklands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, under British rule.

The Falklands were the subject of a short but brutal war after Argentina invaded in 1982. Britain drove off the invaders after sending in a naval armada, but the issue was never considered resolved in Buenos Aires.

“The issue of the Malvinas Islands is a historical legacy of colonialism,” Shuang said South China Morning Mail. “Although the colonial era is over, hegemonism and power politics consistent with colonial thinking still exist.”

Without mentioning that China has threatened to forcibly annex Taiwan if the island’s government does not comply with Beijing’s demands, Shuang said colonial thinking is having a “serious impact” on international relations.

He added that it also “seriously harms” the sovereignty, security and development interests of the countries involved. “The international community must remain very vigilant and resolutely oppose this,” he said.

Pictured: The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon observes the Chinese PLA naval vessel Luyang III (above) transiting the Taiwan Strait with the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Montreal on June 3

Mr Shuang made the remarks yesterday at a special committee meeting on decolonization, which passed a resolution calling on the UK and Argentina to resume negotiations over the Falkland Islands after negotiations broke down earlier this year.

In March, Argentina furiously accused Britain of flouting international law after it tore up a cooperation pact with the UK demanding new talks over the sovereignty of the South Atlantic archipelago.

But in response, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said at the time ‘the Falkland Islands are British’.

Argentina believes the Falkland Islands were taken illegally in 1833 and invaded the British colony in 1982. The United Kingdom sent troops and Argentina lost the two-month war for the archipelago in a conflict that claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers.

Argentina still claims the islands, while Britain says the Falklands are a self-governing entity under its protection. A referendum there in 2013 resulted in a 99.8 per cent vote to remain British.

Speaking at the UN committee meeting yesterday, Mr Shuang said China “strongly supported” Argentina’s claim to the islands and called on the UK to hand over the Falklands.

“We urge the UK to avoid measures that could exacerbate tension and confrontation, while actively responding to Argentina’s request to resume dialogue and negotiations,” he said.

The speech reiterated the same lines put forward by Beijing, namely that the US and Western countries seek to maintain their dominance in the South China Sea when pushing back against China’s military presence there.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing on Monday

In 1982, the Falkland Islands were invaded by Argentine troops who were beaten back in a ten-week war at the behest of Margaret Thatcher. The islands were returned to British control. Pictured: British soldiers raise the flag after the war

In recent months, China has stepped up its military presence in the South China Sea, and President Xi Jinping said in November that Beijing will focus on preparing for war.

China is feared to invade Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own. Xi has vowed to “reunite” the self-governing island with mainland China, calling it the “great trend in history.”

China has increasingly spoken out in favor of Argentina gaining control of the Falkland Islands – and against colonization – on the world stage. Experts say this is because Beijing wants to challenge Western hegemony.

In February last year, Xi and his Argentine counterpart Alberto Fernandez released a joint statement saying that China “reaffirms its support for Argentina’s demand for the full exercise of sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands.”

The joint statement also said that Argentina “reaffirms its adherence to the one-China principle,” a reference to China’s claim to Taiwan.

Argentina claims it acquired the Falklands from Spain in 1816 before Britain asserted its rule.

In 1982, the archipelago was invaded by Argentine forces who were defeated in a ten-week war ordered by Margaret Thatcher and the islands were returned to British control.

In fierce fighting on land, air and sea, a total of seven British ships were lost, including the Sir Galahad, HMS Coventry and HMS Sheffield, which were hit by an Exocet anti-ship missile.