China has accused the United States of “pouring fuel on fire and escalating the war” following President Joe Biden authorizing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with U.S. missiles.
The Associated Press reported on Sunday, citing a U.S. official and three other people familiar with the matter, that Ukraine was now allowed to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of up to 190 miles, on Russian military forces across the border.
The decision came after North Korea, which has already deployed troops to join Moscow’s so-called special military operation in Ukraine, was spotted shipping artillery pieces to Russia last week that are capable of firing shell rounds at targets 25 to 37 miles away.
In an emailed response to Newsweek on Sunday, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., said China “is committed to promoting peace talks and opposes any move that could escalate tensions and escalate the regional situation.”
He added: “Instead of pouring fuel on fire and escalating the war, relevant parties should strive to create conditions for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis through dialogue and negotiation and make practical efforts to maintain peace.”
U.S. Army
“The immediate priority is to promote de-escalation as soon as possible,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday. He said China was committed to “playing a constructive role” in achieving a political solution to the war in its own way.
During what may be his last meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, held in Peru’s capital city of Lima on Saturday, Biden condemned North Korea for sending thousands of troops to join Russia’s unlawful war against Ukraine. Both North Korea and Russia are quasi-allies of China.
Xi responded that China’s position and actions on the Russia-Ukraine war “have always been fair and square,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a readout of the meeting.
“China conducts shuttle diplomacy and mediation to promote peace talks, makes every effort for peace, and strives for de-escalation,” the Chinese leader emphasized to Biden.
Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP
Biden also expressed deep concern over China’s continued support for Russia’s defense industrial base. His administration has sanctioned several Chinese companies it said were involved in supplying Russia with drone components and other military-related goods.
Lin responded by saying China had maintained a “cautious and responsible” approach to military exports, and that it had never supplied lethal weapons to either Russia or Ukraine.
“We have consistently and strictly regulated military and dual-use drones in accordance with laws and regulations,” Lin stated during a press conference in Beijing on Monday.
“Dual-use” refers to goods, technologies, and services that may be used either for civil purposes or for military purposes. Civilian drones manufactured by Chinese drone maker DJI have been widely used by both Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.
