THE Irish Ambassador to China Mr Joe Hayes, has been called in by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to be informed of Beijing's displeasure at Ireland's co sponsorship of a Danish UN resolution condemning China's human rights records.
The ambassador for the Netherlands, the current president of the EU, has also been called in for the second time over his country's support of Denmark's resolution, which was blocked by a Chinese counter motion at the UN Human' Rights Commission in Geneva on Tuesday evening.
The Chinese ambassador to Ireland Madame Fan, called at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin before the vote was taken to formally notify the Government that its insistence on co sponsoring the resolution would adversely affect bilateral relations between the two countries.
Ireland has taken the attitude that the motion urging China to observe human rights was not anti Chinese and that Dublin would continue to look forward to positive relations.
However, with Europe split on the issue - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece joined Canada and Japan in opting not to back the motion for the first time since 1990 - the Chinese are following up their diplomatic triumph by singling out Denmark and the Netherlands for retaliatory action.
Beijing informed Denmark on Tuesday that planned visits by its Social Affairs Minister, Ms Karen Jespersen, to China in June, and Justice Minister Mr Frank Jensen's autumn visit had been put off. Danish officials said Education Minister Ole Vig Jensen would, however, visit Beijing in May and Crown Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandria were proceeding with plans for a private visit in July.
China has also postponed a Dutch trade mission to China from June 7th to 14th, led by Economic Affairs Minister Mr Hans Wijers.
EU ambassadors in Beijing were due to have their weekly meeting today under Dutch chairmanship.
This has been disrupted by the calling in of the ambassadors. With agreement shattered by the human rights issue, the EU diplomatic corps is, for the first time, seriously split on an important EU China foreign policy issue.
"Individual countries are being singled out here," said a diplomat from one of the EU countries supporting the resolution. "The question is do we all sit back as the shutters come down on Denmark and the Netherlands."
Denmark "is interfering in China's internal affairs and hurting the feelings of the Chinese people", said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday. "Copenhagen has set up obstacles to the smooth development of relations between the two countries."
Another EU diplomat observed however that the Chinese anger would not last long Germany had visits postponed last year because of its welcome for the Dalai Lama but good relations were soon restored after the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader left the country.