China's Foreign Ministry denied the words of its ambassador to France that doubted the sovereignty of the former USSR countries

Beijing respects the sovereign status of all countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said. The Ministry commented on the interview of the Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shai, who called Crimea "actually Russia's" and expressed doubts about the sovereignty of the former Soviet states.

"China's position on the relevant issue has not changed. Regarding territorial sovereignty, China's position has always been clear. "China respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries and supports the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter," said the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.