2024-07-11 23:07:47
China has “become an important enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine” as it develops a so-called “borderless” partnership and provides significant support to Russia’s defense industrial base, alliance leaders said in a declaration at a NATO summit in Washington.
They also called on China to end “all material and political support for Russia’s war.”
“This includes the transfer of dual-use materials such as weapons components, equipment and raw materials,” the declaration asserted.
China “cannot enable Europe’s largest war in recent history without adversely affecting its interests and reputation,” the Alliance noted.
Beijing attacked NATO earlier this week, saying the alliance was looking for an excuse to expand its influence eastward.
The US has been pressing its European allies for years to pay more attention to the threats posed by China.
“I think the message sent to NATO at this summit is very strong and very clear, we clearly recognize China’s responsibility in enabling Russia’s war,” said outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
However, China itself responded to this, warning NATO on Tuesday not to “provoke confrontation” over its relations with Russia.
In response to these claims, a spokesman for Beijing’s mission to the European Union said: “NATO should stop making waves about the so-called Chinese threat and refrain from provoking confrontation and competition, and should instead focus more on contributing to world peace and stability.”
“Everyone knows that it was not China that created the crisis in Ukraine. China’s position towards Ukraine is clear and praised by all,” he added.
China refuses to condemn Russia’s invasion and last year released a document calling for a “political solution” to the conflict, which the West believes would allow Russia to keep most of the territory it occupies in Ukraine.
The strategic partnership between China and Russia has become even closer since the beginning of the invasion.
Beijing claims to be neutral in the war and says it will not send any military aid to either side, unlike the United States and other Western countries.
However, it provided vital aid to Russia’s isolated economy, and trade between the two countries has only flourished since the conflict began.
2024-07-11 23:07:47