China’s Xi Jinping reaffirms support for Russia in security issues

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Chinese President Xi Jinping reasserted his country’s support for Russia during a phone call Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Xi vowed to support Moscow’s “sovereignty and security.”
• Xi has refused to condemn Russia over its military assault on Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s support for Russia on sovereignty and security issues.

In a phone call on Wednesday, Xi told Putin that “all parties should responsibly push for a proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Putin “outlined his fundamental assessments of the situation in Ukraine,” the Kremlin said in its account of the conversation. It added that Xi “noted the legitimacy of the actions taken by Russia to protect the fundamental national interests in the face of challenges to its security created by external forces,” according to Moscow’s official readout.

China has declined to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and even accused NATO and the West of provoking the attack.

In early February, weeks before Russia started the invasion, Putin and Xi met in Beijing during the Winter Olympics. The two leaders signed an agreement pledging that relations between the sides would have “no limits.” It has not been reported whether Xi knew at the time of Moscow’s plan to attack Ukraine.

Both Xi and Putin pushed back against U.S. pressure as they met hours before the Winter games kicked off in Beijing. They stated their opposition to any expansion of NATO and asserted that the island of Taiwan is a part of China.

Xi told Putin on Wednesday that China “is willing to work with the Russian side to promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral pragmatic cooperation,” according to Xinhua. “China is willing to, together with Russia, continue to support each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns such as sovereignty and security.”

While China hinted at support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it still wants to appear neutral to avoid possible repercussions from supporting the Russian economy amid international sanctions.

Moscow and Beijing have pumped up their foreign policies alignment against liberal democratic forces in Asia, Europe, and beyond, making a stand for the authoritarian rule with tight borders and little regard for free speech, minority rights, or opposition politics, ABC News reported.

Sourced: ABC News