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China doesn't want Russia to lose in Ukraine over fears of US turning attention eastwards

China doesn't want Russia to lose in Ukraine over fears of US turning attention eastwards

Beijing/Brussels, July 4 (UNI) In a meeting with European officials in Brussels, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union's top diplomat on July 2 that Beijing did not want to see a Russian loss in Ukraine because it would give the United States an excuse to direct its full attention eastwards, reports South China Morning Post.
Speaking to former Estonian Prime Minister and the current High Representative of the EU, Kaja Kallas, Wang Yi's comments confirmed Brussel's assessment on the Chinese stance on the war, though they also contradict the country's public statements.
Europe has long accused China of aiding Moscow's attack on Ukraine, with the three-year-long war being a major point of friction between China and the EU.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has regularly maintained that Beijing is 'not a party' to the war, with Wang Yi rejecting accusations that China was supporting Russia either materially, financially, or militarily, insisting that if it was doing so, the conflict would have ended long ago.
Instead, he said that Beijing has championed the role of a peacemaker between Moscow and Kyiv, talking to both parties and mediating between them to end all tensions.
However, China has never condemned Russia for its military campaign, and has continued to maintain very positive ties with Moscow, which has been a source of great frustration to Europeans and only furthered their claims.
During a marathon four-hour debate on a wide range of geopolitical and commercial grievances, Wang was said to have given Kallas 'several history lessons and lectures.' The tone of the dialogue was nonetheless noted to respectful, even if tense.
As per the media agency, Wang Yi told Kallas the two-day summit itself could be cut short – in a hint that Beijing is not happy with how the EU is positioning itself ahead of the event.
The bloc is set to blacklist two small Chinese banks for flouting its sanctions on Russia, in its 18th package of measures against Moscow, which is awaiting final approval from its 27 member states. On this point, Wang repeatedly vowed to retaliate if the lenders were ultimately listed.
The EU continues to take Beijing to task on trade matters, with dozens of investigations into subsidies, dumping and other market-distorting practices under way or in the works. UNI ANV SSP
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