China, which is a one-party communist state, has been declared a strategic partner because the regime’s goal is to reject all the achievements of Georgia’s independence movement and return the country to its Soviet past, turning it into a one-party, unambitious swamp, Grigol Gegelia, Foreign Secretary of Strong Georgia - Lelo, said at a briefing.

According to him, replacing the United States and Europe with China “is a manifestation of the disastrous collapse the regime has experienced in its relations with the European Union and, most recently, with the United States.”

“Today, the de facto Prime Minister openly and explicitly announced an attempt to change the main trajectory of Georgia’s foreign policy development and presented China as the country’s principal strategic partner.

I would like to remind the public that the Strategic Partnership Charter signed with China mentions the ‘One China’ principle, but it does not state that China supports Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

This is the same China that opposes NATO enlargement. Therefore, a state that opposes Georgia’s key national interests, the principles enshrined in our Constitution, and all the fundamental goals of Georgia’s national security was today declared our main strategic partner.

The so-called Prime Minister’s statement today was a continuation of the treacherous position expressed on November 28. It is a complete insult to the Georgian people and our national goals. It is betrayal.

China, a one-party communist state, has been declared a strategic partner because the aim of this regime is to reject every achievement of Georgia’s independence movement and drag our country back into a Soviet-style past, transforming it into a one-party, stagnant swamp.

When the regime invokes economic interests, that too is absurd and a shameless falsehood. In reality, China has not invested a single penny in the development of our economy. Every project that Chinese companies have carried out poorly in Georgia was financed by Western funds.

We support the idea that China should be one of Georgia’s trade and economic partners. Naturally, China’s constructive involvement is important for the functioning of the Middle Corridor, and this should be one component of Georgia’s foreign policy. However, China cannot and will not become a strategic counterweight or replacement for the United States and the European Union. Among other reasons, China will never oppose - and we see that it does not oppose - Russia’s imperial ambitions in Georgia and the South Caucasus.

Naturally, replacing the United States and Europe with China reflects the disastrous collapse this regime has suffered in its relations with the European Union and, just a few days ago, with the United States. No major international partner is prepared to normalize relations on the terms offered by the Georgian Dream regime.

Just a few minutes ago, we learned that Maria Zakharova once again welcomed Kobakhidze’s policies and once again offered the normalization of relations. This is yet another clear indication that Kobakhidze, Zakharova, Naryshkin, and the Kremlin are operating in complete sync. They work in parallel, making statements within minutes of one another, undermining the national interests of every Georgian and diminishing the prospects for Georgia’s success.

That is why the Georgian people must unite and send to the political dustbin a regime that has betrayed everything Georgian,” Gegelia stated.