China says quiet part out loud: Beijing tells EU it can't afford Russia losing war against Ukraine; wants US distracted

Time of India

19 hours ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony before their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP)
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told the European Union's top diplomat that Beijing cannot accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, Wang said such an outcome could allow the United States to fully shift its focus to China.
This private remark goes against China's public stance of neutrality in the conflict.
Sources were quoted as saying by the newspaper that Wang made the comments during a four-hour meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas in Brussels on Wednesday. European officials were reportedly surprised when Wang said Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been a blessing for China.
According to the report, Wang's comments suggested that China might prefer a prolonged war in Ukraine because it keeps the United States occupied and away from the Pacific region.
This aligns with the views of those who believe China has a larger geopolitical interest in the Ukraine conflict than it has publicly stated.
At the same time, Wang rejected accusations that China is helping Russia militarily or financially. He said that if China were supporting Russia in that way, the war would have ended long ago.
When asked about the report during a regular briefing on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, "China is not a party to the Ukraine issue."
She added, as cited by the CNN, "China's position on the Ukraine crisis is objective and consistent, that is, negotiation, ceasefire and peace. A prolonged Ukraine crisis serves no one's interests."
Mao also said, "Together with the international community and in light of the will of the parties concerned, we will continue playing a constructive role towards this end."
Although China has stated that it is neutral on the Ukraine war, its ties with Russia have grown since the conflict began.
Weeks before the full-scale invasion in 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "no limits" partnership. Since then, political and economic cooperation between the two countries has increased.
One interpretation of Wang's reported comments is that although China did not seek the war, its continuation could align with Beijing's strategic goals, especially if it keeps the US focused on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, China has also denied growing claims that it is providing near-military support to Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on several Chinese companies, accusing them of supplying drone components and technology used in Russian missile production.
Following a large-scale Russian drone attack on Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Andrii Sybiha shared images of what he said were debris from a Geran-2 combat drone launched by Russian forces.
One photo showed part of the drone's fuselage marked with a note stating it was made in China on June 20.
Sybiha also said that the same night, a Russian strike caused minor damage to the building housing the Chinese Consulate General in Odesa. In a post on X, he said, "Chinese Consulate General's building in Odesa suffered minor damage as a result of Russian strikes on the city. There is no better metaphor for how Putin continues to escalate his war and terror while involving others, including North Korean troops, Iranian weapons, and some Chinese manufacturers.
Security in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific is inextricably linked."
Earlier this year, there were also reports that Chinese citizens had fought alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Beijing denied the allegations and reiterated its position that Chinese nationals should avoid involvement in any military activity by any side.