Ukraine

UPDATED: China on the right side of history over Ukraine war – foreign minister

cde.news desk 20 March 2022, 07:30 · 2 min read

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi talks during a joint press conference after the meeting with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio (not pictured) at Villa Madama in Rome, Italy, 25 August 2020. Wang Yi met Di Maio as he embarked on a European tour. The two minister's talks ranged from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), or 'New Silk Road', to post-COVID scenarios, diplomatic sources said. EPA-EFE/MASSIMO PERCOSSI

SHANGHAI, March 20 (Reuters) – China stands on the right side of history over the Ukraine crisis as time will tell, and its position is in line with the wishes of most countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

“China will never accept any external coercion or pressure, and opposes any unfounded accusations and suspicious against China,” Wang told reporters on Saturday evening, according to a statement published by his ministry on Sunday.

Wang Yi: China will continue to make an independent judgment based on the merits of the matter itself and in an objective and fair manner. We will never accept any external coercion or pressure, and we will also oppose any groundless accusations and suspicion against China. pic.twitter.com/G1QrKjxWi3
— XIE Yongjun 解勇军 (@XIEYongjun_CHN) March 20, 2022

Wang’s comments came after U.S. President Joe Biden warned his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Friday of “consequences” if Beijing gave material support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

During the video call, Xi told Biden the war in Ukraine must end as soon as possible and called on NATO nations to hold a dialogue with Moscow. He did not, however, assign blame to Russia, according to Beijing’s statements about the call.

Wang said the most important message Xi sent was that China has always been a force for maintaining world peace.

“We have always stood for maintaining peace and opposing war,” Wang said, reiterating that China will make independent judgements.

“China’s position is objective and fair, and is in line with the wishes of most countries. Time will prove that China’s claims are on the right side of history.”

Also on Saturday, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said that sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia over Ukraine were increasingly “outrageous”.

The United States and its European and Asian allies have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia for the Feb. 24 invasion of its neighbour, which they call a war of aggression by President Vladimir Putin. He says he launched a “special operation” to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine.

While saying it recognizes Ukraine’s sovereignty, Beijing has repeatedly said that Russia has legitimate security concerns that should be addressed and urged a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Photo – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi . EPA-EFE/MASSIMO PERCOSSI