[File photo]

A Chinese envoy has come into focus after castigating Western countries’ rebuke of China’s stance on the crisis in Syria. Many Chinese people praised the envoy for “showcasing the charisma of a true diplomat.”

Liu Jieyi, China’s permanent representative to the UN, delivered a seven-minute speech denouncing the accusations by Western countries that China has been irresponsible in its global security measures, after the country vetoed new UN sanctions against Syria on Feb. 28.

Reiterating China’s stance on chemical weapons during the meeting, Liu said China used to be a victim of such weapons, and therefore has more say than other countries when it comes to condemning the use of chemical weapons.

Disagreeing with Liu, representatives from Western countries including the U.S. and U.K. minced no words in criticizing the “outrageous, indefensible choice” that China made, with new American envoy Nikki Haley stating that “[China and Russia] turned away from defenseless people when Assad’s forces dropped their poisonous gas.”

In response to such groundless accusations, Liu said it’s irresponsible to distort and attack other countries’ solemn positions, and that such accusations emphasized the "unjustifiable grounds and ulterior motives” of the countries making the accusations.

“As we can all recall, so-called weapons of mass destruction (WMD ) were used as an excuse by certain countries to launch wars in the past, which brought suffering to people in the Middle East. Today, countries in the Middle East are still beset by the legacies of such wars. Lessons from history must be learned; it is only in this way that mistakes can be avoided,” said Liu.

Liu’s speech quickly went viral on Chinese social media, with many netizens lauding his words and praising his delivery.

“Western countries should take much of the responsibility for Syria’s chaos. China’s voice should be heard by the world, and Liu’s speech is impartial and enlightening, showing China’s wish for a peaceful Syria,” one netizen wrote on Sina Weibo.

Chinese mainstream media outlets and scholars have also paid close attention to Liu’s speech. According to a Reference News report, Liu’s unprecedentedly long speech is quite rare, and was partially improvised.

“Liu’s most recent speech was much longer than his previous ones. It shows that China has its own stance on the Syria issue, and that we are not just following Russia,” said Zheng Qirong, an expert in UN Studies at China Foreign Affairs University.

“To deliver a speech is not only a chance for Chinese diplomats to showcase their charisma, but also is a test of their flexibility and resourcefulness, ” Zheng added.