China urged NATO on Tuesday to “stop shifting blame” over the conflict in Ukraine, following the Western military alliance’s chief accusing Beijing of escalating the conflict by arming Russia.
On Monday, Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg demanded that China pay a price for what US officials have described as a significant export drive aimed at reviving Russia’s defense sector.
Unlike the United States and other Western countries, China claims to be a neutral party in the conflict in Ukraine and is not providing either side with lethal support.
NATO “should engage in self-reflection rather than arbitrary smears and attacks on China,” Beijing stated on Tuesday.
Domestically, Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the 2022 invasion as a defensive move against an expanding NATO.
“We advise (NATO) to stop shifting blame and sowing discord, not add fuel to the fire and instigate confrontation, but rather do something practical for the political settlement of the crisis,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia have strengthened their strategic alliance, although Beijing has denied Western accusations that it is supporting Moscow’s military effort.
Even still, trade has increased since the conflict started, providing Russia’s isolated economy with a vital lifeline.
Additionally, the foreign ministers of the G7 nations expressed “strong concern” on Friday on the flow of weapons components and dual-use materials from Chinese enterprises to Russia, which Moscow intends to employ for military expansion.
China avoided attending a summit in Switzerland over the weekend that was organized by Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, which reiterated Kyiv’s demands that Russia vacate Ukrainian territory in order to achieve any kind of peace.
Chinese President Xi Jinping “has tried to create the impression that he is taking a back seat in this conflict, to avoid sanctions and keep trade flowing,” Stoltenberg said Monday on a visit to Washington.
“But the reality is that China is fuelling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II,” he said, warning that “at some point… there should be consequences”.
NATO next month celebrates its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington that aims to send a decisive long-term message of support for Ukraine ahead of President Joe Biden’s re-election fight against Republican candidate Donald Trump.
“The more credible our long-term support, the quicker Moscow will realise it cannot wait us out,” Stoltenberg said.
“It may seem like a paradox, but the path to peace is more weapons for Ukraine,” he said.
