BEIJING, Feb 24 (Portal) – Wanting to prevent the Russia-Ukraine crisis from spiraling out of control, China said on Friday dialogue and negotiations are the only viable ways to resolve the crisis.
On the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China called for a comprehensive ceasefire and gradual de-escalation in a 12-point State Department paper.
The ministry’s paper is largely a repeat of China’s line since Russia launched its so-called “military special operation” on February 24 last year.
China has failed to condemn its ally Russia or call its intervention with its neighbor an “invasion,” and it has also criticized Western sanctions against Russia.
“Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must remain rational and exercise restraint, not ignite the fire and escalate tensions, and prevent the crisis from worsening or even spiraling out of control,” the ministry said in its paper.
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The war entered its second year with no end in sight and Russia has been isolated by the UN while G7 leaders will coordinate further aid to Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a “peace speech” later on Friday to mark the anniversary, in which he is likely to urge peace while avoiding condemnation of Russia. The State Department said it had no information about a speech.
Ukraine has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire while Russian troops occupy its territory, saying any pause in fighting would allow Russia to regroup its troops.
European Union Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo said China’s paper is not a peace proposal but the EU will study it closely, although he noted the EU’s concerns that the paper did not mention an attacker.
At a briefing for reporters in Beijing, Toledo said China has a special responsibility to defend and uphold the values of the United Nations Charter.
At the same briefing, the Ukrainian chargé d’affaires called China’s paper “a good sign” and added that Ukraine expects more active political support from China.
Ukrainian envoy Zhanna Leshchynska said Ukraine hopes China will also urge Russia to end the war and withdraw its troops.
“NO NUCLEAR WAR”
When asked to what extent she believes China has maintained neutrality in the conflict, Leshchynska said: “If it’s neutrality, then China should talk to both sides, Russia and Ukraine. Now we see that the Chinese side is mainly talking to Russia, but not to Ukraine.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said critical comments by some diplomats about the paper were baseless and aimed at slandering China.
“It would be better if they thought about whether they did anything for the political solution of the Ukraine crisis,” Wang said at a regular briefing.
Since the war began, weeks after Beijing and Moscow announced a borderless partnership, Xi has spoken regularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but not once with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Putin has signaled he will redouble the Ukraine conflict despite heavy defeats on the battlefield over the past year and has raised the specter of nuclear weapons.
China said nuclear weapons must be avoided.
“Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be waged,” the State Department said. “We oppose the development and use of biological and chemical weapons by any country under any circumstances.”
Putin on Thursday welcomed “new frontiers” in relations with China and signaled a visit from Xi.
US President Joe Biden will meet virtually with G7 leaders and Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy on Friday to mark the anniversary and announce new sanctions against those supporting Russia’s war effort, the White House said.
China said the only sanctions that should be imposed on Russia should be approved by the UN Security Council – where the Russians have veto power – and that unilateral sanctions and pressure “only create new problems”.
“China opposes unilateral sanctions not approved by the UN Security Council. Relevant countries should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and ‘long arm jurisdiction’ against other countries.”
Reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Martin Quin Pollard; Additional reporting by Eduardo Baptista; writing by Bernard Orr and Liz Lee; Edited by Michael Perry, Kim Coghill, Robert Birsel
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