The Chinese government rejected criticism by US officials of President Xi Jinping’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin was urged by a reporter to respond to remarks made by US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Kirby previously cautioned about China’s claim to want peace in the region, saying China was simply parroting Russian talking points.
CHINA SAYS IT IS READY TO WORK WITH US FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE: ‘ASK US APART’
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping toasted during their dinner at the Facets Palace in Moscow, Russia on March 21. (Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP)
“I took note of Mr. Kirby’s remarks that you just mentioned,” Wang told the reporter on Wednesday. “He also said that China’s position on the Ukrainian issue cannot be seen as impartial. We would like to emphasize that China is neither the one who created the Ukrainian crisis nor a party in the crisis; still less has China supplied weapons to any of the parties to the conflict.
“We do not have a selfish agenda on the Ukraine issue. We have not stood by, nor added fuel to the fire, nor exploited the situation for selfish gain. Everything we have done boils down to supporting peace talks,” Wang continued. . .
The Foreign Ministry spokesman continued to drag the US government for supplying weapons to the Ukrainian defense forces and for “causing the crisis to escalate”.
PUTIN AND XI END FIRST ROUND OF TALKS IN MOSCOW AS BLINKEN TALKS CHINA’S PROPOSED PEACE PLAN FOR UKRAINE
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin answers a question during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)
“The United States says China’s position cannot be seen as impartial. Does this mean that the use of weapons in the conflict should be seen as impartial?” Wang asked the press. “Does this mean that the cause of the escalation of the crisis should be viewed as impartial? Does this mean that allowing the crisis to spill over into the rest of the world should be viewed as impartial?”
China called for a ceasefire and peace talks last month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautiously welcomed Beijing’s involvement, but the overture has failed.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, has loudly welcomed China’s peace plan.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Kremlin on March 20, 2023. (SERGEI KARPUKHIN/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)
“On the Ukrainian issue, voices are forming in favor of peace and rationality,” Wang said. “Most countries support easing tensions, support peace talks and are against adding fuel to the fire. This is also China’s position. President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia is a journey of friendship, cooperation and peace. It has been warmly received internationally. We call on the United States to reflect on its role in the Ukraine issue, to stop fanning the flames and shift the blame to China.”
The meeting in Moscow marked Xi’s first international trip this year and comes days after the International Criminal Court issued a arrest warrant for Putin, citing his alleged involvement in the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Greg Norman and Bradford Betz of Fox News contributed to this report.
