The Chinese government has made it clear that it will not supply weapons to Russia in support of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, either currently or in the future.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that in a statement following discussions with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Beijing, China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang stated that the supply of weapons to parties in conflict is not and will not be a part of China’s approach.
He emphasised that the law regulates dual-use goods that could be used for both civilian and military purposes.
Qin Gang also stressed that China’s role in Ukraine is to promote reconciliation and advance peace negotiations.
He cited China’s successful engagement in peaceful reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, expressing hope that China could encourage Russia to end its aggression in Ukraine and participate in peaceful conflict resolution. Baerbock praised China for signalling its commitment to finding a solution and referred to a 12-point position paper released by China, which had faced criticism in the West.
“We will not continue to pour oil on the fire,” he said.
His comments came after Baerbock urged China to more strongly encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine.
She said Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow had shown that no other country had more influence on Russia than China.
“The decision on how it uses this influence directly affects Europe’s core interests,” Baerbock said.
Baerbock acknowledged that China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has a special responsibility in this regard. The statement from China emphasises its commitment to promoting peace and stability in Ukraine and its adherence to international law.
“But I have to say frankly that I wonder why the Chinese positioning so far does not include calling on the aggressor Russia to stop the war.
“We all know President Putin will have the opportunity to do that at any time,” Baerbock said.
She said it was equally crucial “not to allow arms shipments to Russia that further prolong this aggression and also to prevent dual-use goods from being used for war.”
