FM: China is on the right side of history at war in Ukraine

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China is on the right side of history regarding the Ukraine crisis, and only time will confirm this certainty, adding that the Chinese position is in line with the wishes of most countries.

“China will never accept any external coercion or pressure and oppose any baseless accusations and suspicions against the country,” Wang told reporters Saturday evening, according to a statement released by his ministry on Sunday.

Wang’s comments come after US President Joe Biden warned his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday of “consequences” if Beijing offered material support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

During the video call, Xi told Biden that the war in Ukraine should end as soon as possible and urged NATO countries to continue dialogue with Moscow. But he did not blame Russia, according to Beijing’s statements about the call.

Wang said that the most important message that Xi sent is that China has always been a major force in maintaining world peace.

“We have always advocated peacekeeping and opposition to war,” Wang said, stressing that China would make independent judgments.

“China’s position is objective and fair, 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 Li Yucheng said the sanctions Western countries imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine had become increasingly “outrageous”.

The United States and its European and Asian allies imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia over the February 24 invasion, which they described as President Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression. The Russian president claims to have launched a “special operation” to disarm and “disarm” Ukraine.

Recognizing Ukraine’s sovereignty, Beijing has repeatedly emphasized that Russia has legitimate security concerns that must be addressed and has called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Copyright © Thomson Reuters.