China says it is keen to play ‘constructive role’ resolving Ukraine crisis, but refuses to condemn Russian invasion
- Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Beijing is a ‘responsible’ power as Beijing continues its balancing act over the conflict
- Wang highlights strategic partnership with Moscow at annual press conference, but hits out at US for trying to encircle China
With their relations with Washington and its allies becoming increasingly estranged, China and Russia have edged closer and aligned on many foreign policy issues in recent months. Last month Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin declared there were “no limits” to the countries’ strategic partnership.
Beijing’s refusal to call out Putin’s aggression, its repeated references to Moscow’s “legitimate security concerns” and its pro-Russian media coverage of the war have been widely perceived as its tacit support for Russia. But Beijing has said it respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, and on Monday Wang insisted “China has remained objective and impartial”.
He repeated Beijing’s opposition to any moves that could add “fuel to the flames” – a veiled swipe at Western sanctions on Moscow – and said the priority should instead be to promote direct talks between Ukraine and Russia while preventing a massive humanitarian crisis.