Leave China Out Of US-Russia Row: FM
Beijing, March 15: Beijing called on the US to avoid damaging China’s interests when trying to settle its relations with Russia, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.
On Monday, State Department spokesman Ned Price raised concerns over alleged China’s attempts to use the Ukrainian crisis “to advance Beijing’s long-term interest in its competition with the US”. He warned Beijing that any support to Russia, including helping to avert sanctions imposed by the US and its allies, would have implications not only for China’s relations with Washington but for its relationships around the world.
“The Chinese side has repeatedly expressed its position regarding sanctions. Beijing discourages the use of sanctions to settle problems and even more opposes unilateral sanctions that lack international legal grounds,” Zhao said.
“We call on the US not to harm China’s legitimate rights and interests when handling its relations with Russia,” he added. China will continue to pursue normal trade and economic cooperation with Russia based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, he added. The US and its allies announced wide-ranging sanctions against Russia after Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24.
