DHARAMSHALA, November 23 – China’s foreign ministry on Thursday summoned Spain’s ambassador to Beijing following a Spanish court ruling that called for the arrest of former Chinese leaders including two of its former presidents.
The former Chinese leaders named in the ruling could face arrest when traveling to or through the countries that have signed extradition treaty with Spain.
China on Wednesday expressed its displeasure over the Spanish court’s orders to issue arrest warrants to former Chinese leaders including retired Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing strongly opposes the court’s move and warned of damages in the two sides’ ties. “We urge Spain to face up to China’s solemn position, change the wrong decision, repair the severe damage, and refrain from sending wrong signals to the Tibetan-independence forces and hurting China-Spain relations,” Hong said.
Spain’s diplomatic sources say China had expressed its “deep unease” over the judgement in the meeting with the ambassador, a source added.
The court’s decision follows lengthy proceedings which started in 2005, when Tibetan activist groups asked the court to hold seven Chinese leaders responsible for crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese government in Tibet.
