HONG KONG – China on Monday accused the United States of “disinformation” and “double standards” over warnings that it is considering sending artillery and ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
Beijing is promoting peace talks while it is Washington that is stoking the conflict, the country’s foreign ministry said, following growing concerns about China’s intentions by Western officials.
“On the Ukraine issue, China supports an objective and just position and actively promotes peace talks,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning, pointing to a peace plan released on Friday on the one-year anniversary of the war. Hua said at a regular news briefing, however, that the US is fanning the flames for Kiev and fueling the fighting with more weapons.
Mao described it as “the definition of double standards and hypocrisy”, saying “the US is spreading misinformation about supplying arms to Russia and using the allegation to restrict Chinese enterprises.” He said Beijing had lodged stern representations with Washington after the Commerce Department on Friday blacklisted five Chinese companies it accused of providing aid to the Russian military.
China’s 12-point proposal calls for a ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow, the start of peace talks and an end to Western sanctions on Russia. US and European officials have dismissed the Chinese plan as too favorable to Moscow, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he wanted to discuss it with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese government, which declared a “no borders” partnership with Russia last year, has refrained from condemning Russia’s aggression as it seeks to portray itself as neutral. It has criticized Western sanctions as ineffective while also taking precautions to avoid violating them.
US officials previously publicly accused China of considering providing lethal assistance earlier this month, drawing strong denials from Beijing. New intelligence suggests the aid could include artillery and ammunition, three US officials familiar with the matter said over the weekend, without providing evidence.
The new intelligence was originally reported by The Wall Street Journal and a former US official and a Western official briefed on the matter.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the White House has not yet seen China provide lethal aid to Russia, but warned that doing so would be against Beijing’s interests.
“I think it will alienate them from many countries in the world, including our European allies,” he said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
Also on Monday, China accused the US of undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by flying P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft through the narrow waterway that China claims as its territory along with Taiwan Island. Is. Taiwan and the US consider the strait to be international territory, and it is regularly crossed by US warships and occasionally by aircraft.
“The US actions deliberately interfere and disrupt the situation in the region and threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We strongly oppose this action,” the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China said in a statement.
A statement from the US 7th Fleet, which has operational command of all US naval forces in the region, said the flight demonstrated Washington’s “commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific”.
On Friday, a Chinese fighter aircraft flew within 500 feet of the same aircraft while patrolling in the South China Sea. A US Navy officer on board told NBC News reporters that such encounters are frequent, even though they are of a professional nature.
Eric Bakulinao, don liu And Murphy Zhao Contribution,
