Which is a reference to the classic Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of Silver Blaze. Similarly, Julian Ku on Lawfare is wondering why the Chinese aren’t barking about our missile attack on Syria:
For the Chinese government, no principle of international law is more sacrosanct than non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states. Originating in its own sad history of being interfered with by foreign powers, China has made its defense of this principle a cornerstone of its foreign policy and one of its Five Principles for Peaceful Co-existence. During the Kosovo war in 1999, China did not shy from calling the NATO action a “violation of the UN Charter and the universally recognized norms guiding international relations” and causing “serious damage on the authority of the UN Security Council.”
So when the official spokesperson for that government dodges a clear invitation for it to reaffirm this basic principle, the rest of us should pay attention. I am not saying China no longer cares about the non-interference principle, but it is remarkable that it is going out of its way not to talk about it.
Julian only has speculation, no answers. It’ll be interesting to see if this represents a shift in Chinese thinking, or if Syria did something to piss off the Chinese.
