BEIJING (AP) – China said on Friday it would not sell arms to either side in the war in Ukraine, responding to Western concerns that China could provide military aid to Russia.
China has remained neutral in the conflict while supporting Russia politically, rhetorically and economically at a time when the West has imposed punitive sanctions and sought to isolate Moscow over aggression against its neighbor. rice field.
Qin Gang is a senior Chinese official who has made clear statements about arms sales to Russia. He also added that China will restrict the export of items with dual civilian and military uses.
“China takes a cautious and responsible stance on the export of military equipment,” Qin said at a press conference with Germany’s Annalena Beerbock. “China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations.”
The minister also reiterated China’s willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
At the same news conference, Qin also blamed Taiwan’s government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory.
In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia — and warned that such involvement in the Kremlin’s war effort would be a “serious problem.”
In recent days, European leaders have issued similar warnings, even as they visited China, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief lashed out at Beijing, saying its support of Russia during the invasion was “a blatant violation” of its United Nations commitments.
In her remarks, Baerbock also referred to China’s role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, saying it bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict.
A visit to Moscow last month by Chinese leader Xi Jinping underscored how Beijing is increasingly becoming the senior partner in the relationship as it provides Russia with an economic lifeline and political cover. China announced on Friday that its Defense Minister Li Sang Fu will visit Russia next week to meet with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and other military officials.
On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated a longstanding defense of China’s policies and emphasized Beijing’s rejection of criticism from the West, particularly the United States. Under the ardent nationalist Xi Jinping, China honed its rhetoric, particularly on the issue of secession from mainland China during his 1949 civil war.
Tensions on the island soared last weekend after China stationed warships and military planes near Taiwan in retaliation for a meeting between US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the island’s President Tsai Ing-wen.
China insists that an autonomous Taiwan submit to its rule, either peacefully or by force, and Qin argues that the pursuit of independence by the Taiwanese government and its foreign supporters is not an option for major U.S. allies. said to be a veiled reference to . Baerbock warned that a dispute in the Taiwan Strait, through which much of the world’s international trade passes, would lead to global catastrophe.
“Therefore, we are very concerned about rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” she said. “Conflicts must be resolved peacefully. A unilateral change of the status quo is unacceptable to us Europeans.”
Apparently, Qin brushed off Bearbok’s concerns, saying Taiwan was “China’s internal affair.”
