“NOT A THREAT”
China’s foreign minister Qin Gang later said the relationship between China and the US needed to be based on mutual interests and friendship, rather than “US domestic politics and hysterical neo-McCarthyism”.
In a wide-ranging press conference, former US ambassador Qin dismissed warnings from Western countries that China may supply arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine, saying it would not accept “blame-shifting, sanctions, suppression and threats” targeting Beijing.
China last month released a position paper outlining its stance on the Ukraine conflict, portraying itself as a neutral party and urging the two sides to enter peace negotiations.
Beijing’s claim to neutrality has been questioned by the US and other Ukrainian allies, with Russia and China describing their bilateral relationship as having “no limits” just weeks before the invasion.
Qin said China was “neither a creator of the crisis nor a party to it, and it has not provided weapons to any party”, adding peace talks should start “as soon as possible”.
Beijing’s relationship with Moscow is “not a threat to any country in the world”, he said.
Qin also reiterated the official line that China would “maintain the option of taking all necessary actions” to reclaim Taiwan.
He warned against “underestimating the strong determination, firm will and powerful ability of the Chinese government and Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.