China’s Wolf Warrior Lu Shaye heads home from France in shadow of controversy

Analysts say the delay in moving Lu from Paris shows Beijing did not want to be seen giving in to outside pressure

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Lu Shaye was appointed as China’s ambassador to France after a controversial period as its envoy to Canada. Photo: AFP

Shi Jiangtaoin Hong KongandYuanyue Dangin Beijing

Published: 10:00am, 12 Dec 2024

China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, whose remarks about Ukraine and other former Soviet states caused uproar across Europe last year, is wrapping up his tenure in Paris.

Lu, 60, one of the country’s most prominent Wolf Warrior diplomats who is famed for his abrasive style, is expected to return to Beijing next month, according to French media.

At a farewell reception at Beijing’s embassy in Paris on Monday, Lu said he would continue to support the Chinese community in France “no matter where I am in the future”.

“Economic and trade relations have always been the ballast of China-France relations. Cultural exchanges are the driving force. And Chinese people in France are a bridge that connects our hearts,” he said in comments that appeared in videos on social media.

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In a video interview with the official China News Service on Sunday, Lu said he had seen China-France relations evolve over the past five years while he was ambassador, as the “friendly atmosphere” became marked by “more intricate issues” in the fields of politics, the economy and trade.