Latest news with #ChinaRussiaRelations
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China tells EU it can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine, official says
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union's top diplomat that Beijing can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China, an official briefed on the talks said, contradicting Beijing's public position of neutrality in the conflict. The admission came during what the official said was a four-hour meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday in Brussels that 'featured tough but respectful exchanges, covering a broad range of issues from cyber security, rare earths to trade imbalances, Taiwan and Middle East.' The official said Wang's private remarks suggested Beijing might prefer a protracted war in Ukraine that keeps the United States from focusing on its rivalry with China. They echo concerns of critics of China's policy that Beijing has geopolitically much more at stake in the Ukrainian conflict than its admitted position of neutrality. On Friday, at a regular Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the exchange, which was first reported in the South China Morning Post, and re-affirmed Beijing's long-standing position on the three-year war. 'China is not a party to the Ukraine issue,' Mao said. '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.' She added that China wanted a political settlement as quickly as possible: '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.' China's public statements on the Ukraine war mask a more complex picture. Just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared a 'no limits' partnership with Moscow and since then political and economic ties have strengthened. China has put itself forward as a possible peacemaker, but as CNN has previously reported the stakes are high for Beijing, not least potentially losing a major partner in Russia. China has also rejected growing accusations it is providing near-military support to Russia. Ukraine has sanctioned several Chinese companies for providing Russia drone components and technology for use in missile production. After a record assault on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, posted pictures he said were the fragments of a Geran 2 combat drone launched by Russia. One image displayed part of the drone's alleged fuselage which said the device was made in China on June 20. Sybiha added that night the '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.' This year also saw allegations that Chinese nationals have been fighting with Russia in Ukraine. Beijing denied any involvement and repeated previous calls for Chinese citizens to 'refrain from participating in military actions of any party.'
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China tells EU it can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine, official says
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union's top diplomat that Beijing can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China, an official briefed on the talks said, contradicting Beijing's public position of neutrality in the conflict. The admission came during what the official said was a four-hour meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday in Brussels that 'featured tough but respectful exchanges, covering a broad range of issues from cyber security, rare earths to trade imbalances, Taiwan and Middle East.' The official said Wang's private remarks suggested Beijing might prefer a protracted war in Ukraine that keeps the United States from focusing on its rivalry with China. They echo concerns of critics of China's policy that Beijing has geopolitically much more at stake in the Ukrainian conflict than its admitted position of neutrality. On Friday, at a regular Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the exchange, which was first reported in the South China Morning Post, and re-affirmed Beijing's long-standing position on the three-year war. 'China is not a party to the Ukraine issue,' Mao said. '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.' She added that China wanted a political settlement as quickly as possible: '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.' China's public statements on the Ukraine war mask a more complex picture. Just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared a 'no limits' partnership with Moscow and since then political and economic ties have strengthened. China has put itself forward as a possible peacemaker, but as CNN has previously reported the stakes are high for Beijing, not least potentially losing a major partner in Russia. China has also rejected growing accusations it is providing near-military support to Russia. Ukraine has sanctioned several Chinese companies for providing Russia drone components and technology for use in missile production. After a record assault on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, posted pictures he said were the fragments of a Geran 2 combat drone launched by Russia. One image displayed part of the drone's alleged fuselage which said the device was made in China on June 20. Sybiha added that night the '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.' This year also saw allegations that Chinese nationals have been fighting with Russia in Ukraine. Beijing denied any involvement and repeated previous calls for Chinese citizens to 'refrain from participating in military actions of any party.'
CNN
04-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
China tells EU it can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine, official says
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union's top diplomat that Beijing can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China, an official briefed on the talks said, contradicting Beijing's public position of neutrality in the conflict. The admission came during what the official said was a four-hour meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday in Brussels that 'featured tough but respectful exchanges, covering a broad range of issues from cyber security, rare earths to trade imbalances, Taiwan and Middle East.' The official said Wang's private remarks suggested Beijing might prefer a protracted war in Ukraine that keeps the United States from focusing on its rivalry with China. They echo concerns of critics of China's policy that Beijing has geopolitically much more at stake in the Ukrainian conflict than its admitted position of neutrality. On Friday, at a regular Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the exchange, which was first reported in the South China Morning Post, and re-affirmed Beijing's long-standing position on the three-year war. 'China is not a party to the Ukraine issue,' Mao said. '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.' She added that China wanted a political settlement as quickly as possible: '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.' China's public statements on the Ukraine war mask a more complex picture. Just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared a 'no limits' partnership with Moscow and since then political and economic ties have strengthened. China has put itself forward as a possible peacemaker, but as CNN has previously reported the stakes are high for Beijing, not least potentially losing a major partner in Russia. China has also rejected growing accusations it is providing near-military support to Russia. Ukraine has sanctioned several Chinese companies for providing Russia drone components and technology for use in missile production. After a record assault on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, posted pictures he said were the fragments of a Geran 2 combat drone launched by Russia. One image displayed part of the drone's alleged fuselage which said the device was made in China on June 20. Sybiha added that night the '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.' This year also saw allegations that Chinese nationals have been fighting with Russia in Ukraine. Beijing denied any involvement and repeated previous calls for Chinese citizens to 'refrain from participating in military actions of any party.'
CNN
04-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
China tells EU it can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine, official says
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union's top diplomat that Beijing can't accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China, an official briefed on the talks said, contradicting Beijing's public position of neutrality in the conflict. The admission came during what the official said was a four-hour meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday in Brussels that 'featured tough but respectful exchanges, covering a broad range of issues from cyber security, rare earths to trade imbalances, Taiwan and Middle East.' The official said Wang's private remarks suggested Beijing might prefer a protracted war in Ukraine that keeps the United States from focusing on its rivalry with China. They echo concerns of critics of China's policy that Beijing has geopolitically much more at stake in the Ukrainian conflict than its admitted position of neutrality. On Friday, at a regular Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the exchange, which was first reported in the South China Morning Post, and re-affirmed Beijing's long-standing position on the three-year war. 'China is not a party to the Ukraine issue,' Mao said. '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.' She added that China wanted a political settlement as quickly as possible: '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.' China's public statements on the Ukraine war mask a more complex picture. Just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared a 'no limits' partnership with Moscow and since then political and economic ties have strengthened. China has put itself forward as a possible peacemaker, but as CNN has previously reported the stakes are high for Beijing, not least potentially losing a major partner in Russia. China has also rejected growing accusations it is providing near-military support to Russia. Ukraine has sanctioned several Chinese companies for providing Russia drone components and technology for use in missile production. After a record assault on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, posted pictures he said were the fragments of a Geran 2 combat drone launched by Russia. One image displayed part of the drone's alleged fuselage which said the device was made in China on June 20. Sybiha added that night the '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.' This year also saw allegations that Chinese nationals have been fighting with Russia in Ukraine. Beijing denied any involvement and repeated previous calls for Chinese citizens to 'refrain from participating in military actions of any party.'
Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russia cannot lose war in Ukraine, warns China
Russia cannot afford to lose the war in Ukraine, China has warned. Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, said Beijing does not want to see a Russian loss because of fears the United States would then shift its focus on to China. The comments were made during a four-hour meeting between Mr Wang and Kaja Kallas, the vice-president of the European Commission, according to several sources who spoke to the South China Morning Post. The remarks took many by surprise as Chinese officials do not often speak this candidly, even in closed-door meetings. According to those familiar with the conversation, Mr Wang also gave Ms Kallas several 'history lessons and lectures' about realpolitik and concerns in Beijing that Washington will gradually turn its attention east. There are signs that this change is already underway as Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of defence, have both made clear that security in the Indo-Pacific region and mitigating a threat from China is a top priority for the administration. China has repeatedly said that it is 'not a party' to Russia's war against Ukraine and has denied supplying weapons to Moscow, despite evidence to the contrary, including reports that it supplied Russia with a laser defence system. Mr Wang's comments are the latest sign that China has a vested interest in the outcome of the war. Following the exchange, Chinese state media reported that China has 'consistently advocated for peace talks to solve the Ukraine crisis' and welcomed the 'efforts of all parties to reach a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement'. The remarks came after the US halted weapons shipments to Ukraine because of concerns that America's stockpile is too low. In a blow to Kyiv, the White House said it will ' put America's interests first following a review of the nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe'. While those familiar with Mr Wang's meeting with Ms Kallas said it was respectful, soon after it was reported that the upcoming two-day EU summit in China had been shortened, at Beijing's request. The original agenda had Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping and premier Li Qiang in Beijing on July 24, then travelling to Hefei, in central China, for a business summit on July 25. Now, the summit will only be one day in Beijing. Experts suspect the reason the summit was cut short could be because of Chinese concerns that the EU will sign a trade deal with the US that would hurt Beijing. China has also recently clashed with the EU over export controls of rare earth elements and magnets, which have hit some European manufacturers hard. Mr Wang tried to offer reassurances about export controls yesterday, saying that 'certain forces are deliberately hyping this matter' and that rare earth exports have never been and should not become an issue between China and Europe. The summit's shortening seemed to be a snap decision as the EU Chamber of Commerce in China was inviting members to sign up for meetings in Hefei as late as Thursday morning local time.
