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Despite fears that China could help Russia avoid economic sanctions and even provide military support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, China’s ambassador to Ukraine this week told officials in the western city of Lviv that his country would support Ukraine both economically and politically.
“We will always respect your state, we will develop relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. We will respect the path chosen by Ukrainians, because it is the sovereign right of every nation,” said Fan Xiangong, who moved to the Chinese Embassy. from kyiv to Lviv after Russian forces invaded on February 24, Lviv officials said on Monday, according to the Lviv regional government.
“In this situation, which you have now, we will act responsibly. We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and this means its strength,” Fan added.
Gordon Chang, author of ‘The Great US-China Tech War’, said it was surprising to see a Chinese official express such strong support for the Ukrainian people, but that Beijing must continue its actions to convince the world of its position. on the war.
“These words really mean nothing until China stops buying Russian products, and stops letting Russian institutions use its financial system, and stops its propaganda that amplifies the ridiculous positions of Russia,” Chang told Fox News Digital. “These comments are fascinating, but nonetheless, I want to see actions rather than words.
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Beijing and Moscow have cultivated close ties in recent years, with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping declaring last month that “the friendship between the two states knows no bounds” following the Russian president’s visit to China. for the Winter Olympics.
President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on February 4, 2022.
(Photo by Alexei DruzhininTASS via Getty Images)
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met his Chinese counterpart in Rome on Monday, a day after reports emerged that Russia had asked China for economic and military aid in its invasion of Ukraine, which both countries deny.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that Sullivan was “very blunt about the consequences” if Beijing offered military or economic aid to the Kremlin.
“We’ll be watching closely,” PSAki said. “But in terms of potential impacts or consequences, we will direct them through private diplomatic channels at this stage.”
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Chang said China was concerned about the potential backlash from the West to help Russia, especially after the United States and European allies unleashed an unprecedented series of sanctions against Putin and the Russian economy.
“I think Beijing is certainly worried about the United States imposing sanctions on China, so what they’re trying to do is prevent that with easy-to-pronounce words,” Chang said. “But the question is, what are they really going to do? And it’s going to be critical, so it’s something we’re going to have to wait and see.”
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, left, meets with the U.S. adviser to national security Jake Sullivan at right in Rome, Italy, March 14, 2022.
(Jin Mamengni/Xinhua via AP)
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted on Monday that China was trying to avoid Western sanctions and wanted to see a negotiated ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
“China is not a party to the crisis, nor does it want the sanctions to affect China,” Wang told his Spanish counterpart by phone, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout of the conversation. “China has the right to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
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