Athens, Greece – In a sharply worded statement, the Chinese embassy in Greece has condemned remarks by US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, who recently suggested that Athens should divest from the Piraeus Port to curb Beijing's growing regional influence.
The embassy's spokesperson in Athens described Guilfoyle's comments as baseless accusations against the investments and management of the port by Chinese firms. Labeling the statements as "malicious slander" against routine Sino-Greek business ties, the official accused them of amounting to blatant meddling in Greece's domestic matters. The remarks, the spokesperson argued, betray a lingering Cold War mindset and a domineering worldview, prompting China to voice its profound discontent and firm rejection.
Highlighting the cooperative spirit between the two nations, the embassy emphasized that China-Greece partnerships are grounded in shared gains, free from geopolitical maneuvering. It pointed to Beijing's steadfast support for Greece amid its financial woes, which transformed Piraeus into a bustling Mediterranean and European gateway, spurring job creation and economic vitality. The Chinese involvement in the port, the statement asserted, stands as a prime example of fruitful bilateral relations, with Chinese enterprises committed to ongoing investments in tandem with Greek labor to elevate the facility further.
The embassy underscored that Piraeus remains an asset for the Greek populace and warned against its politicization in great-power rivalries. It accused the US of goading Greece into reneging on binding agreements by forcing a sale, framing this as a destabilizing ploy destined for failure. In closing, the spokesperson urged the ambassador to contemplate historical precedents and prioritize actions that truly serve Greek interests.
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