China: Joe Biden, USA to Blame for 'Fanning Up Flames' Leading to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

After Russia started its invasion of Ukraine with missiles and bombs, which was condemned by many nations, China was reluctant to rebuke Russia's aggression openly, instead, it pointed fingers at the United States and its allies for escalating the conflict.

A government official of Beijing avoided directly answering questions from the members of the press whether China considers Russia's military actions as an act of "invasion."

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying repeatedly said that the crisis was "not what we hope to see" and blamed the United States, implying that the administration of United States President Joe Biden was the one worsening the situation due to its warnings in recent weeks of Russia's "imminent invasion" of Ukraine.

Hua said China took a "responsible attitude and persuaded all parties" to de-escalate tensions or incite war. "Those who follow the US' lead in fanning up flames and then shifting the blame onto others are truly irresponsible," she told reporters per CNN.

Hua made similar remarks the day before the invasion, attributing the turmoil on "NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia's doorstep."

China Does Not Want To Call Russian Strike on Ukraine an "Invasion"

However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry official refused to call Russia's attack on Thursday an "invasion."

Hours after the violent strike, leaders from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other countries condemned Moscow's military actions.

Hua told one media reporter that the US has been "fueling the flame" and then asked how Washington is going to "put out" the fire.

She also underscored that China is "closely" monitoring the situation's progress in Ukraine and hopes that all sides can resume "dialogue and negotiation," according to CNBC.

The Russian invasion happened after a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, in which the two leaders demonstrated their close ties with a highly publicized summit ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Ukraine Seeks South Korea's Help in Bolstering Cybersecurity Capabilities

Meanwhile, Ukraine's top official in South Korea sought the help of Seoul in bolstering Kyiv's cybersecurity defense against online attacks initiated by Russia.

Ukraine's Ambassador-Designate to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, said the Russians have been attacking websites of the Ukrainian government's agencies.

Reuters reported that a worldwide cybersecurity firm recently found type of devastating software has been detected spreading in Ukraine and has infected several computers. Experts considered it part of what has been described as an increased surge of cyberattacks against the country.

Ponomarenko commended South Korean President Moon Jae-in's remarks that Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected, and Seoul supports a peaceful resolution of the crisis but expressed hopes for additional assistance.

The Ukrainian diplomat said in a statement that his country would be "grateful" if South Korea assists in amplifying Kyiv's cybersecurity capabilities, being a "highly developed hi-tech country." Reuters reported that South Korea's foreign ministry official has announced that the country will increase its support for Ukraine but refuses to elaborate on future cyber partnerships.

Last year, South Korea identified Ukraine as a major beneficiary of official development assistance, and it is actively supporting the country's education, health, and public administration sectors.