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China warns US over Russia’s ‘legitimate security concerns’
China’s foreign minister takes aim at Washington as tensions with Russia mount over Ukraine.
China's FM said his country opposes "external interference" in how other countries are run. [Pavel Golovkin/Pool via Reuters]
Published On 27 Jan 20222
China has thrown its political weight behind Russia as fears of it potentially invading Ukraine grows, pointing to Moscow’s “legitimate security concerns” in a call to US officials.
Speaking to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Russia’s security concerns over growing tensions in Europe over Ukraine should be “taken seriously”.
“All parties should completely abandon the Cold War mentality and form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiation,” China’s top diplomat said on Thursday, according to a foreign ministry statement.
In a nod to Moscow’s concerns about the expansion of the NATO alliance in Europe, Wang added that “regional security cannot be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs”.
He also said China opposes “external interference” in how other countries are run.
Tens of thousands of Russian troops have been stationed at the border with Ukraine in recent weeks.
In response, the US and other NATO member states have been conducting intense diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent days, as well as providing military reinforcement to Ukraine.
According to the State Department’s readout of the call, “Secretary Blinken underscored the global security and economic risks posed by further Russian aggression against Ukraine and conveyed that de-escalation and diplomacy are the responsible way forward”.
The US and its NATO allies have said they are ready for any eventuality.
China warns US over Russia’s ‘legitimate security concerns’
China’s foreign minister takes aim at Washington as tensions with Russia mount over Ukraine.
