Day: February 21, 2023

• Beijing is “deeply concerned” about the violence in Ukraine.
• China has indicated it will issue a proposal this week aimed at finding a “political solution.”
• China will address the concerns of all parties and seek common security”.

China‘s foreign ministry said Tuesday that Beijing is “deeply concerned” about the violence in Ukraine, which is “intensifying and even getting out of control.

Beijing will “work with the international community to promote dialogue and consultation, address the concerns of all parties and seek common security”, Qin Gang said in a speech on global security in the Chinese capital.

As the year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor approaches on February 24, China has indicated it will issue a proposal this week aimed at finding a “political solution” to the Ukraine crisis.

Qin said Tuesday that Beijing would “continue to promote peace talks” and “offer Chinese wisdom for the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, and work with the international community to promote dialogue and consultation, address the concerns of all parties and seek common security”.

“At the same time, we urge the countries concerned to stop adding fuel to the fire as soon as possible, to stop shifting the blame to China,” Qin said, following US claims that Beijing may be considering sending arms to Moscow — allegations China has denied.

Today Ukraine, tomorrow Taiwan

And regarding the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory and has vowed to seize one day, Qin urged countries to “stop making an uproar by shouting ‘Today Ukraine, tomorrow Taiwan'”.

“The pressures and attempts to contain China, coming from the outside, are getting stronger and stronger, they are getting worse and worse, posing a serious threat to China’s sovereignty and security,” Qin said.

“We firmly oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, firmly oppose Cold War mentality and camp confrontation, and firmly oppose any external interference in China’s internal affairs.”

Senior diplomat Wang Yi told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that with regard to the Ukraine war, Beijing was against attacks on nuclear power facilities, opposed the use of biological weapons, and was open to engaging with “all parties”.

He also battled with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over Washington’s shooting down of a Chinese balloon in its airspace — a response Wang described as “hysterical and absurd”.

Wang is scheduled to arrive in Moscow for talks on his penultimate stop on a European tour that has taken him through France, Italy, Hungary, and Germany.

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