- Qin Gang, China's foreign minister, reiterated that China would not arm either side in the Russia-Ukraine war.
- A leaked US government document indicated China's plan to provide military help to Russia.
- An EU top diplomat has cautioned that the EU would struggle to maintain trust with China unless China helps find a political solution centered around Russia's departure from Ukraine.
On Friday, a Chinese foreign minister responded to Western worries that Beijing would be providing military help to Russia by reiterating that China would not provide weapons to any side in the Russia-Ukraine war.
China maintains its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war despite the Western nations' efforts to impose harsh sanctions and isolate Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. Though, in previous instances, China had declared that it politically, rhetorically, and economically supports Russia, according to AP News.
Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang is the highest-ranking Chinese official publicly denying China's military shipments to Russia. He also said that China would control the export of materials that may be used for either civilian or military purposes.
During a joint press conference with German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang declared that China has a cautious and "responsible" approach towards exporting military items. Under laws and regulations, China will not offer arms to "relevant parties" of the Russia-Ukraine war and will monitor and restrict the export of dual-use items.
He also reaffirmed China's readiness to support efforts to settle the situation peacefully.
Leaked US Documents Indicate China's Plan To Send Weapons To Russia
Documents from the United States government purportedly indicate that China authorized the transfer of dangerous assistance for Russia for its war against Ukraine but wanted any supplies to stay covert.
The Washington Post cites a confidential intelligence review dated February 23 as evidence that Beijing authorized the gradual supply of weaponry to Moscow. These weapons for the Russia-Ukraine war would be disguised as civilian products, as reported by The Guardian.
The information was allegedly collected by American spies listening to Russian secret service conversations. The Russians reportedly claimed that China's top military commission had requested that the shipping details remain classified.
According to one intelligence document in the cache of leaked US government documents, China would transfer weaponry to Russia if the Ukrainian government launched a "significant" attack involving US or NATO armaments on Russian territory.
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They were part of an enormous cache of stolen secret papers that surfaced on the messaging app Discord last month. Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old alleged leaker, will appear in a Boston court on Friday. Although some papers seem to have been doctored, US authorities have confirmed they are genuine and include very sensitive information.
Top EU Official Says Trusting China is Near Impossible
According to Inquirer, European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell has indicated that Europe would have difficulty trusting China if it does not seek a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Borrell was supposed to give the lecture to a think tank in Beijing on Friday, but he caught COVID-19 and had to postpone his trip. The text of his prepared comments was posted on the EU's website.
Borrell warned that unless China helped find a political solution predicated on Russia's departure from Ukrainian land, it would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible," for the EU to retain a relationship of confidence with China.
According to Borrell, China's claims of neutrality, while a violation of international law is taking place, lack credibility. He called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to communicate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and increase humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people.
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