The United States (US) has slammed China for supporting Russian propaganda on the invasion of Ukraine following a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
“Nations that side with Vladimir Putin will inevitably find themselves on the wrong side of history,” a state department spokesperson asserted on Wednesday, adding that Washington continues to keep a close eye on Beijing’s engagements with Moscow.
China works actively to advance world peace and the stability of the global economic order. All parties should work in a responsible way to facilitate a proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China will continue to play its due role in this regard.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) June 15, 2022
In a phone call with Putin on the eve of his birthday on Wednesday, Xi reaffirmed China’s support for Russia on “core interests concerning sovereignty and security,” vowing to deepen their strategic partnership “in the face of global turbulence.” Xi also stressed that Beijing had assessed the Ukraine conflict independently based on the “historical context and the merits of the issue,” and promised to play his part in resolving the crisis “in a responsible manner.”
The Kremlin claimed in its press statement that Xi had acknowledged the “legitimacy” of Russia’s actions in order to “protect the fundamental national interests in the face of challenges to its security created by external forces.”
China has refused to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has said that it understands Moscow’s security concerns due to the supposed expansion of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). China has also abstained or voted against United Nations (UN) resolutions that have sought to condemn Moscow’s military aggression. Furthermore, it has criticised the supply of weapons from the Western countries to Ukraine as well as the detrimental impact of sanctions. Though Xi has spoken with Putin twice since the Ukraine war began, he is yet to have a dialogue with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, despite claiming to maintain an impartial stance.
Pres #XiJinping spoke w/ #Russian Pres #VladimirPutin on the phone ystd(15/6), saying #China is willing to support &strengthen strategic coordination w/ Russia on the issues of core interests &common concern on sovereignty &security, enhance coordination in #UN, #BRICS & #SCO. pic.twitter.com/2rE39DLqxq
— Ambassador Deng Xijun (@China2ASEAN) June 16, 2022
In fact, according to a Western Intelligence report, Chinese officials had prior knowledge of Russia’s intentions and war plans before the Ukraine invasion began in February, and had urged their Russian counterparts to not invade Ukraine until after the completion of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Earlier this year, US President Joe Biden had warned Xi of grave consequences if it gave military or economic support to Russia, which was denied by both Beijing and Moscow. However, China has since walked a fine line as it did not want to incur secondary sanctions that would affect its trade relationships with the US and the European Union (EU).
Meanwhile, during a meeting with the BRICS’ high representatives in charge of security issues on Wednesday, Russian Security Council secretary Nikolay Patrushev said that “Russia is interested in reaching political and diplomatic agreements as soon as possible” with Ukraine, but the talks have been “frozen by the Ukrainian side.” He further blamed the “destructive actions” of the US, the United Kingdom (UK), and their allies for the suspension of peace talks. “We know that very well because we have information that was the order given by their American handlers,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added.
Furthermore, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov claimed that Russia will end the “special military operation” in Ukraine only when it “deems right.” “If Zelensky and his team are not ready for negotiations, if those behind him are determined to continue their mindless, or rather, insane pumping of Ukraine with weapons, it is their choice, it is sad, it is tragic, but we cannot retreat,” he underscored. Similarly, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Ukraine has “big problems” and “nothing good will come out of it.”
According to a press release from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi stated that Beijing will also work with Moscow to “promote solidarity and cooperation among emerging market countries and developing nations, and push for the development of the international order and global governance towards a more just and reasonable direction,” in what appears to be a veiled attempt at balancing the status quo with the US.
According to Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, the two countries have no choice but to defend against NATO in an effort to maintain a global strategic balance. “It’s clear that NATO is no longer a military organization in the regions around the north of the Atlantic, but will step into Asia and have global influence, and more importantly, it targets Russia and China as its rivals, even enemies,” he added.
While the #US is busily impoverishing the #EU and imposing sanctions that hurt their economy, #Russia and #China are opening the first automobile bridge across the Amur River between the two countries to start cargo traffic that will help boost trade turnover to $200 billion. pic.twitter.com/JoBT5k0oZf
— Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺 (@ejmalrai) June 10, 2022
Putin, meanwhile, remarked that Moscow supports the Global Security Initiative proposed by Beijing, underlining that it “opposes any force” that interferes with China’s internal matters “using so-called issues regarding Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, among others, as an excuse.”
China and Russia entered into a “no limits” partnership earlier this year to build “sustainable and consistent” bilateral ties in the new “multipolar, equitable, and democratic world order.” In this regard, Putin emphasised that bilateral ties are at an “unprecedentedly high level and are constantly improving,” and expected to reach “record levels” this year. According to Chinese Customs Data, China is Russia’s largest trading partner, with trade volumes reaching $147 billion last year.
Moreover, according to the Kremlin, both leaders agreed to “expand cooperation in energy, financial, industrial, transport and other areas,” since the “illegitimate sanctions policy of the West” had turned the global economy “more complicated.”
In a reflection of the “steady progress” being made between the two countries, China and Russia opened their first cross-border bridge over the Amur River last week, linking the far eastern Russian city of Blagoveshchensk with the northern Chinese city of Heihe. China has also become the world’s largest importer of Russian energy since the start of the Ukraine war.
Putin and Xi also touched upon expanding military-technical ties. This comes after the two countries undertook combined military drills in the East China Sea last month.
1️⃣1️⃣3⃣ days of full-scale #Russia’s war on #Ukraine.
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) June 16, 2022
Information on #Russian invasion.
Losses of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, June 16. pic.twitter.com/4QfGDBC1r9
Additionally, the duo agreed to strengthen their communication and “tighten coordination” in the UN, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. “It was emphasised that Russia and China, as before, act from a common or very close position, consistently uphold the fundamental principles of international law, and seek to build a truly multipolar and fair system of international relations,” the Kremlin statement said.
Meanwhile, Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov announced on Wednesday that Russian airstrikes had destroyed four US-made 155mm M777 howitzers and 18 special vehicles, and killed 300 Ukrainian personnel and three mortar squads in the Kharkiv region in Ukraine. On the other hand, Ukraine’s General Staff has claimed that Russia has lost almost 33,000 troops, 1,449 tanks, 3,545 armoured fighting vehicles, 233 multiple launch rocket systems, 97 surface-to-air missile systems, 179 helicopters, 213 aeroplanes, 591 drones, and 13 boats since the start of the war.