JAKARTA , investor.id – China’s Foreign Minister (Menlu) said Tuesday (21/2) that his government is “deeply concerned” about the conflict in Ukraine that is “escalating and even getting out of control”.
The Chinese government has sought to position itself as a neutral party in the war in Ukraine, while maintaining close ties with its strategic ally Russia. It has vowed to publish proposals aimed at finding a “political solution” to end the war, ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s offensive which began February 24, 2022.
The United States (US) government accused China of considering sending weapons to Russia. This claim is denied by China.
“It’s been almost a year since the crisis in Ukraine escalated in its entirety. China is very concerned that the conflict is intensifying and even getting out of control,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who visited Jakarta today, Tuesday.
“(China urges) concerned countries to stop adding oil to the fire as soon as possible, to stop blaming China,” he continued.
On the self-governing island of Taiwan, which China regards as its territory and has vowed to seize it one day, Qin urged countries not to equate it with Ukraine. “Stop making noise by shouting ‘Today Ukraine, Tomorrow Taiwan,’ Qin stressed.
“The pressure and attempts to restrain China, coming from outside, are getting stronger and stronger, worse and worse, posing a serious threat to China’s sovereignty and security,” he said.
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said at the Munich Security Conference on the Ukraine conflict, his government opposes attacks on nuclear power plants, opposes the use of biochemical weapons, and is willing to cooperate with all sides.
Wang was scheduled to be in Moscow, the Russian capital, to talk about the final stop of his European tour which also saw him visit France, Italy, Hungary and Germany.
The Kremlin said on Monday that Wang may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, according to the official TASS news agency.
The high-level visit followed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s accusations that the Chinese government could consider providing lethal support to Russia, ranging from ammunition to the weapons themselves.
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he had warned Wang at a weekend meeting that any material support for Russia’s war would be a red line in relations between the two sides.
“He told me they weren’t going to do it, that they weren’t planning on doing it. But we will remain vigilant,” Borrell said on Monday, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium.
Chinese authorities on Monday rejected the accusations, accusing the US government of spreading false information.
“It is the United States and not China that is relentlessly sending weapons to the battlefield,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
Source: Investor.id
