Chinese officials accused the United States on Wednesday of “raising tensions” and “creating panic” over the Ukraine crisis following Washington’s announcement of new sanctions against Moscow and its decision to continue supplying Ukraine with weapons to defend against a potential Russian invasion.
China has taken a cautious approach toward Ukraine as Moscow has massed thousands of troops along its borders. After Russia sent troops into two Ukrainian regions now recognized by Moscow as independent, China criticized the West for imposing more sanctions.
China has accused the United States of exaggerating Russia‘s military buildup and destabilizing Ukraine‘s society and economy in the process.
Following Moscow’s announcement that certain forces would be pulling back near Ukraine on Tuesday, it similarly accused the United States of a failed propaganda campaign, calling it “information terrorism.”
Governments in the West have become less concerned about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, but fears have not disappeared.
Beijing may have believed – or even known – that a full-scale invasion is not imminent or even likely in the coming days, as Wang repeated the phrase at his press conference.
“It is exactly this persistent hyping and dissemination of disinformation by some in the West that has added more turbulence and uncertainty to a world already fraught with challenges, and intensified distrust and division,” said Wang.
“We hope relevant parties can stop such disinformation campaigns and do more to benefit peace, mutual trust and cooperation.”
Western governments have asked Beijing to use its good relations with Moscow to dissuade President Vladimir Putin from embarking on a military adventure that could greatly destabilize the world economy.
China has refuted suggestions that it has asked Russia not to invade Ukraine during the ongoing 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
“China and Russia have always worked to develop long-term good-neighborliness and a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship on the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third countries,” said Wang, a day after China’s state broadcaster CCTV ran an overwhelmingly positive report.
Biden stated earlier that the measures were only a “first tranche.” He added that more penalties would follow if Russia’s military grip extended beyond the two territories in eastern Donbas.
As Russia and China have become increasingly estranged from the U.S. and more at odds with the West, they have grown closer. Putin visited Beijing earlier this month to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as the Russian leader massed troops around Ukraine’s borders.
On China spoke out against Washington on Wednesday over the new sanctions against Russia and accused it of escalating tensions by sending weapons to Ukraine.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters the U.S. actions were “raising tensions, creating panic, and even playing up the schedule of war,”
“If someone is adding fuel to the fire while blaming others… then that behavior is irresponsible and immoral,” she added, pointing the finger at the United States in response to a question on China’s role in resolving the situation.
She said China had “called on all parties to respect and attach importance to each other’s legitimate security concerns, strive to resolve issues through negotiation and consultation, and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.“
In response to a question about whether China would impose sanctions against Russia, Hua said Beijing believes “sanctions have never been a fundamental and effective way to solve problems.”
Following Putin’s announcement that he would send troops into Donetsk and Luhansk, Britain, the European Union, Japan and Australia have also announced penalties.
Biden said Tuesday that Washington would keep supplying weapons to Ukraine to defend itself against an invasion by Russia, and that U.S. troops would be deployed to reinforce NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
“Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part,” Mr. Biden told a televised audience at the White House.
I believe that Vietnam was something of the same order.
