China denies NATO claims of supporting Russia in war against Ukraine
Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian (Getty Images)
China responded to NATO’s statements about assisting Russia in the war against Ukraine and advised the Alliance to take a good look at itself, says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
What China says
According to a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Beijing is taking an objective and fair stance on the war in Ukraine.
Lin Jian asserts that China has not supplied lethal weapons to either Ukraine or Russia.
"We did not provide a single piece of lethal weaponry to either party to the conflict and have enforced straight control over dual use articles," he says.
Beijing also criticizes statements made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry calls on the Alliance to reconsider its approach toward China and to stop, as they put it, provoking confrontation.
"It is high time that NATO addressed its misguided perception of China, stopped provoking confrontation, shifting blame, and reflected on itself as a product of the Cold War, its own role in promoting world peace and stability," says Lin Jian.
Background
China’s statement came after the NATO Secretary General commented on Beijing’s role in supporting Russia during the war against Ukraine.
According to him, the Kremlin is not waging the war alone, but with the support of China, Iran, and North Korea.
Rutte also drew attention to the supply of dual-use goods to Russia and attempts to circumvent international sanctions.
"We are not naive. We follow everything exactly," the NATO Secretary General emphasizes.
China's support for Russia
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, China has maintained a supposedly neutral stance. Beijing has not condemned the Russian invasion, although it officially declares its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
At the same time, Western media have repeatedly reported that Chinese companies are supplying Russia with dual-use goods that can be used for military purposes.
According to Reuters, Chinese military engines are being secretly shipped to Russia under the guise of industrial refrigeration units to circumvent Western sanctions.
