Firm and forceful action if we are sanctioned, warns China

Europe Press and Sputnik

Newspaper La Jornada
Friday, March 11, 2022, p. 4

Beijing. The Chinese government yesterday rejected criticism from the West of its stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it has not condemned, and stated: Those who have accused China of staying on the sidelines on the Ukraine issue should ask themselves what role they have played in this crisis, who prompted the expansion of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) eastward five times, or who fueled this situation, exaggerating and increasing the tension for months.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: China has been making decisions independently in a spirit of objectivity and fairness. We have played a constructive role in promoting the peace talks. President Xi Jinping spoke with Vladimir Putin and expressed China’s wish that Russia and Ukraine hold peace talks as soon as possible..

He added that wielding the big stick of sanctions cannot solve the Ukraine problem, as it has long been shown that instead of tackling the problem, sanctions will create new difficultiesand warned that if the West punishes Beijing for failing to condemn the Russian incursion into Ukraine, China will give a firm and forceful response.

Zhao added that Chinese authorities have always firmly opposed the development, possession or use of biological and chemical weapons by any country and under any circumstances. He recalled that the international community is concerned about the military biological activities of the United States in its territory and in its 336 laboratories abroadand asked Washington to explain its actions.

Separately, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that her government has seen no evidence of China providing Russia with an alternative solution to the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies. Chinese banks, which do business with many companies in Western countries, are also interested in the relationship with the United States and European financial systems, and appear very cautious in their willingness to do business with Russia, she added.

The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, had a telephone call yesterday with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves le Drian, and the Italian, Luigi Di Maio, to whom he informed them of Beijing’s intention to continue mediating in the conflict in Ukraine and prevent the humanitarian crisis from getting worse.

And Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian defended plans to increase military allocations by 7.1 percent with the need to meet great power obligations.