A Chinese envoy on Thursday opposed the United States' practice to smear China on the Ukraine crisis and urged the U.S. to make tangible contributions to the political settlement of the crisis, rather than obstructing the international community's efforts for peace.
Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on arms supply to Ukraine.
At the meeting, Adedeji Ebo, director and deputy to the High Representative of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), told the council that the armed forces of Ukraine have reportedly received arms, ammunition and other forms of military assistance, including heavy conventional weapons.
He also said that the transfer and use of cluster munition has caused deep concerns, as these weapons can cause indiscriminate killing and injury and create widespread contamination.
Speaking at the meeting, Geng reiterated China's stance, saying that the pressing priority of the moment is to follow the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of the fighting, and no provocation by any party, and work to deescalate the situation and resolve the crisis politically as soon as possible.
China also calls on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate in earnest their political will and start peace talks and stop fighting as quickly as possible, and calls on the international community to actively create favorable conditions and provide constructive assistance to this end, Geng said.
Geng also blamed the United States for exacerbating security tensions, widening the trust deficit, and creating division and confrontation in Europe.
The United States also keeps sending weapons to the battlefield, openly calls it an opportunity to weaken and defeat Russia, and blatantly advances its own geopolitical agenda, said Geng.
The United States has repeatedly discredited China’s peace efforts, constantly ties China to Russia, drives a wedge in the relations between China and Europe, and deliberately creates bloc confrontation, Geng continued.
"Here is my advice for the U.S.: Peddling anxiety, creating enemies, and stoking confrontation will not only bring disputes and chaos to the world, but will also hurt the U.S. itself in the end. We hope that the U.S. can stop its pointless blame game and work with the countries concerned, including China, to make tangible contributions to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, instead of obstructing the international community's efforts for peace," said Geng.
In response to the groundless accusation against China made by Robert A. Wood, the U.S. alternate representative for special political affairs in the United Nations, Geng said that China has not provided arms to any party to the conflict in Ukraine and has always strictly controlled dual-use items.
Chinese enterprises carry out normal economic and trade cooperation with countries around the world, including Russia and Ukraine, in accordance with WTO rules and market principles, which is reasonable, legitimate, and beyond reproach, Geng said.
"I would also like to point out that, from the very beginning of the war, China has called for an early ceasefire and an end to the fighting, for the settlement of disputes through diplomatic negotiations, and for the promotion of a political settlement. Over the past three years, China has been speaking out and engaging in mediation efforts to that end. I think the international community can see clearly who is supporting peace and who is obstructing it," said Geng.
China opposes the U.S. use of the Ukraine issue to smear China's image and exert pressure on China, and its wanton imposition of unilateral sanctions and illegal long-arm jurisdiction on Chinese entities and individuals, said Geng, adding that China will take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens.
China urges US to make tangible contribution to political settlement of Ukraine crisis
