- China denies aiding Russia in Ukraine
- NATO accuses China of enabling Russia
- China urges NATO to avoid conflict
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, has responded to NATO’s “groundless accusations” that Beijing is assisting Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
He has also warned the Western alliance against inciting conflict.
Mr Wang’s remarks, delivered during a phone chat with his Dutch counterpart, come hours after NATO leaders met in Washington, DC, and released a proclamation mentioning the battle.
In some of their strongest statements yet about Beijing, they accused China of being a “decisive enabler” of Russia through its “large-scale support for Russia’s defence industrial base.
They urged China to withdraw “all material and political support” for Russia’s war effort, including the delivery of dual-use goods, which can be used for both civilian and military objectives.
Western powers have previously accused Beijing of sending drone and missile technologies, as well as satellite imagery, to Moscow. According to the US, China now supplies around 70% of Russia’s machine tools and 90% of its microelectronics imports.
Beijing was also accused of engaging in “malicious cyber and hybrid activities, including disinformation” against NATO members.
In a press conference on Thursday, US President Joe Biden stated that he had discussions with other leaders about outlining the consequences for China.
China must understand that giving Russia intelligence and capability, as well as collaborating with North Korea and others to assist Russia and [their] armament, will not result in economic benefits, he stated.
I believe you will see some of our European colleagues reduce their investments in China.
He stated that Russia had been seeking weapons from China and North Korea and that NATO members were considering a new policy to transform the West into an “industrial base” for munitions and the development of new military systems.
On Thursday, while chatting with the Netherlands’ new foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, Mr Wang stated that “China does not accept” all of these claims and reiterated that they have “always been a force for peace and force for stability”.
In comments reported by state media, he stated that China’s different political system and principles “should not be used as a reason for NATO to incite confrontation with China” and urged NATO to “stay within its bounds”.
His comments were the latest in a string of heated replies from Beijing.
Earlier on Thursday, a foreign ministry official said that NATO was spreading “fabricated disinformation” about China, while Beijing’s delegation to the EU urged the alliance to “stop hyping up the so-called China threat”.
Beijing has consistently denied supporting Russia in the war, insisting that it remains neutral. It has called for an end to the fighting and put out a peace plan, which Ukraine has rejected.
Aside from the rising charges of military backing, experts have pointed out that Beijing’s purchases of enormous volumes of oil and gas have helped prop up Russia’s devastated economy and replenish war-torn finances.
Beijing’s official terminology on the crisis often mimics Moscow’s; China, like them, does not refer to it as a war. Chinese President Xi Jinping has maintained a tight relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both publicly saying that their collaboration had “no limits”.
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Beijing has accused the United States and other Western countries of adding “fuel to the fire” by providing lethal weapons and technology to Ukraine for defence.
In recent weeks, numerous countries have gone a step further, allowing Ukraine to use their weaponry against targets within Russia.
During NATO’s three-day summit, which concluded on Thursday, the alliance reiterated its commitment to Ukraine. Member nations stated that they will support Ukraine on its “irreversible path” to future membership, adding that “Ukraine’s future in NATO”.
They also vowed increased cooperation with Ukraine’s military and support for its defence. The alliance has pledged at least €40 billion ($43.3 billion, £33.7 billion) in aid over the next year, which includes F-16 fighter fighters and air defence support.
