NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg mentioned China’s failure to sentence Russia for its invasion of Ukraine represents a “serious challenge” to all the North Atlantic alliance.
Stoltenberg spoke with journalists on Thursday after NATO international ministers met in Brussels, joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. NATO’s Asia Pacific companions—Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea—had been additionally in attendance.
The NATO chief mentioned the attendance of Asia Pacific companions was necessary “because the crisis has global ramifications,” not least as a result of function of China in giving tacit assist for Moscow’s invasion.
FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS/AFP by way of Getty Images
“We have seen that China is unwilling to condemn Russia’s aggression,” Stoltenberg mentioned. “And Beijing has joined Moscow in questioning the right of nations to choose their own path. This is a serious challenge to us all. It makes it even more important that we stand together to protect our values.”
Stoltenberg added that NATO and its companions within the Asia Pacific had agreed “to step up our practical and political cooperation in several areas,” together with cyber expertise, maritime safety, local weather change, and resilience.
In an announcement despatched to Newsweek, China’s mission to the European Union disputed Stoltenberg’s evaluation. “Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has always maintained an objective and fair position, remained committed to promoting peace talks and made positive efforts towards the deescalation of the situation,” the mission mentioned.
“This stands in contrast to the attempts of fanning the flames and adding fuel to the fire as some organizations do.”
The mission additionally dismissed NATO as “a remnant of the Cold War” that’s “increasingly targeting China.” The mission mentioned this “is the serious challenge confronting global peace and stability.”
China has refused to affix the West in condemning Russia’s invasion and in implementing sanctions on Moscow to drive an finish to the combating. Beijing has known as for de-escalation and peace talks, however has rigorously averted blaming Moscow for the violence.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party and its media organs have persistently accused the U.S. of fueling the battle by offering weapons to Ukraine and refusing to renege on NATO’s “open door” coverage for brand new members.
Chinese media has additionally peddled groundless Russian-driven conspiracy theories about U.S.-Ukrainian biolabs and neo-Nazi affect contained in the nation.
On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian refused to attach Russia to suspected battle crimes in Kyiv’s suburbs, from which Russian troops lately withdrew. Satellite photos and intercepted Russian army cellphone calls hyperlink Russian troops to torture and abstract execution of civilians.
Russian officers and media have concurrently blamed Ukrainian forces for civilian deaths and claimed that atrocities had been fabricated.
Zhao instructed reporters that the “truth and the cause of the incident must be verified…All parties should exercise restraint and avoid unfounded accusations before a conclusion of the investigation is drawn.”
Zhao additionally repeated Beijing’s criticism of worldwide sanctions. “History and reality have proven that sanctions do not bring peace and security, but only bring lose-lose or multiple losses, adding to the already difficult world economy and impacting the existing world economic system,” he mentioned.
Echoing one other long-established Russian speaking level, Zhao additionally accused the U.S. of making the state of affairs in Ukraine in order to “profit from the chaos and make a lot of money.”
4/8/22 3:25 a.m. ET: This article has been up to date to incorporate remark from China’s mission to the European Union.