China called on Tuesday to “promote dialogue” in Ukraine, saying it was “very concerned” about the conflict which “is intensifying and even getting out of control”.
This war is a delicate issue for Beijing, because of its strong diplomatic and economic ties for several years with Moscow, consolidated by the common interest of counterbalancing Washington.
Officially neutral, China calls for respecting the sovereignty of states, including Ukraine, while urging the international community to take into account Moscow’s security concerns.
A few days before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern that China is considering supplying weapons to Russia – allegations that Beijing denies.
“It’s been almost a year now that the crisis in Ukraine has seen a general escalation,” Qin Gang, China’s foreign minister, said Tuesday at a conference in Beijing.
“China is very worried about this conflict which is intensifying and even getting out of control,” he stressed to several dozen foreign ambassadors and diplomats.
Beijing also views arms deliveries to Ukraine with suspicion.
“We call on the countries concerned to stop throwing oil on the fire as soon as possible and to stop blaming China,” Qin Gang said, referring in particular to Western calls for Beijing to put the blame on China. pressure on Moscow.
“We will continue to promote peace talks… and work with the international community to promote dialogue and consultation, address the concerns of all parties and pursue common security.”
Qin Gang also dismissed any parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan, an island the People’s Republic of China has intended to attach to the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
It is necessary to “stop making a fuss by shouting Today Ukraine, tomorrow Taiwan”, underlined the minister, responding to concerns about a potential Chinese military invasion of the island territory of 23 million inhabitants.
“The pressures and attempts to contain China, coming from outside, are growing stronger” and “pose a serious threat to China’s sovereignty and security,” Qin Gang said.
“China has always been on the path of peaceful development. It has never initiated a conflict or war, nor invaded an inch of land from another country.”
On Ukraine, Beijing said last week that it wanted to make public soon a proposal to find “a political solution” to the war.
The head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, is expected Tuesday in Russia, the last leg of a European tour which has already taken him to France, Italy, Hungary and Germany.
The Kremlin said on Monday that Wang could meet President Vladimir Putin during his visit, according to Russian news agency Tass.
Western pressure is mounting on China, which has never publicly supported or criticized the Russian offensive, while repeatedly expressing its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.
“Providing lethal support to Russia to aid in its war of aggression in Ukraine would have real consequences for our relations with China,” Antony Blinken said.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, estimated that a possible delivery of arms by China to Russia would constitute a “red line” for the European Union.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, on Monday denied the US allegations, accusing Washington of “spreading false information”.
“It is the United States and not China that is constantly sending weapons to the battlefield,” he added.
02/21/2023 12:36:25 – Beijing (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
