China calls for de-escalation of war in Ukraine after Crimea bridge attack

Foreign ministry spokeswoman says Beijing ‘is in communication with all parties’ and willing to a play a constructive role to de-escalate the situation

There have been Russian missile strikes across Ukraine after an explosion crippled the bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula on Saturday

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Flames and smoke rise from the Crimean Bridge connecting Russia and the Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait near Kerch, Crimea on Saturday. The bridge is a key supply artery for Moscow’s faltering war effort in southern Ukraine. Photo: AP

Published: 8:03pm, 10 Oct 2022Updated: 8:18pm, 10 Oct 2022

China has offered a muted response to a blast that crippled the Crimean Bridge and the subsequent shelling of Ukrainian cities, calling for de-escalation of the war in Ukraine.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said “we have noted the relevant reports”, when asked about the explosion and bombings across Ukraine on Monday. “We also hope that the situation can de-escalate as quickly as possible.”

On Sunday – asked at the ministry’s daily news briefing about the huge explosion on the bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula the previous day – Mao had only said that Beijing had noted the “relevant reports”, without elaborating.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing had “noted the relevant reports”. Photo: Kyodo

The situation in Ukraine escalated on Monday after the blast. Russian missiles struck cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, leaving craters in roads and playgrounds. Ukraine’s internal affairs ministry said on messaging app Telegram that explosions had damaged more than 20 residential buildings in the capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that Russia had launched strikes on Monday morning with long-range precision weapons against the energy, military and communications facilities of Ukraine.

Mao did not directly respond to a question asking whether China was concerned about the escalating situation in Ukraine, but repeated Beijing’s usual call for peace talks.

She also did not comment when asked about Putin’s description of the bridge explosion as a terrorist attack.

“China is in communication with all parties,” she said. “We are willing to play a constructive role to help de-escalate the situation.”

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