Chinese ambassador to the EU, Song Zhe, has recently made some strongly-worded comments regarding the EU.

Regarding the EU’s open criticism of China for its boycotting of the Nobel Peace Prize, Mr Zhe said that “the Chinese were struck by the fact that people here cannot shut their mouths” and stressed that the episode had seriously damaged the image of the EU in China.

A few days later, when the correspondence between EU and US authorities on the arms embargo on China was revealed by Wikileaks, ambassador Song Zhe said that “it is pitiful and pathetic that Europe can’t make decisions on its own”. His words might have had some effect, as High Representative Ashton has just declared that she believes that the embargo should be lifted.