Китайские транскрипты и Украина - февраль 2022
8 февраля
RIA Novosti: Yesterday, media reported that Ukraine requested the United States to place Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems, also known as THAAD, on its territory. What is China’s comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: We have noted relevant reports. We hope that all parties will remain calm and exercise restraint, and refrain from doing anything that could escalate disputesand tensions
14 февраля
I’d like to reiterate that China’s position on the Ukrainian issue is consistent and clear, and remains unchanged.
To solve the issue, it is necessary to return to the starting point of the Minsk-2 agreement, which is endorsed by the UN Security Council. As a fundamental political document recognized by all sides, the agreement should be earnestly implemented. All parties should work for the comprehensive resolution of the Ukraine crisis and issues concerned through dialogue and negotiation. We call on all parties to remain rational and refrain from making moves that may escalate the tensions and play up andsensationalizethe crisis.
15 февраля
AFP: A Pentagon spokesperson said yesterday that China’s tacit support for Russia on the Ukrainian issue was deeply alarming. And he said that was destabilizing to the security situation in Europe. Does China have any response to this?
Wang Wenbin: Under the current circumstances, exaggerating and hyping up the possibility of warfare is not responsible behavior. Resorting readily to sanctions and pressure won’t help with deescalating the situation. Clamoring for bloc confrontation will only lead to the old path of the Cold War. We call on all sides to adopt an equal and open attitude,and work for the earnest implementation of the Minsk-2 agreement through dialogue and negotiation so as to create conditions for a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis.
Reuters: Just now on Ukraine, you said China calls on all parties to follow an equal and open attitude and encourages dialogue. Has China been having any dialogue with Vladimir Putin in recent days asking him not to invade Ukraine?
Wang Wenbin: China’s position on Ukraine is consistent and clear, and stays unchanged. We believe all parties should earnestly follow the Minsk-2 agreement and work toward the comprehensive resolution of the Ukraine crisis and issues concerned through dialogue and negotiation.
16 февраля
RIA Novosti:Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the country was moving some forces away from the border with Ukraine and from Crimea following military drills. The move comes after days of Western media competing to predict the date of an alleged Russian invasion of Ukraine. Does China see signs of military aggression from the Russian side, or does Beijing trust Moscow’s claims that troops were sent to regions near the border with Ukraine only for military drills? How does China see the current development of the situation around Ukraine?
Wang Wenbin:For days, the US has been playing up the threat of war and creating an air of tension. This has gravely impacted the economy, social stability and people’s lives in Ukraine, and added obstacles to advancing dialogue and negotiation between parties concerned.
I noted that the Russian side recently said that the West has resorted to “information terrorism”on the Ukraine issue, and that February 15, 2022 will go down in history as the day of the failure of Western propaganda. We must point out that it is exactly the persistent hyping and dissemination of disinformation by some in the USandtheWest that has added more turbulence and uncertainty to the world already fraught with challenges and intensified distrust and division. We hope relevant parties can stop such disinformation campaign and do more things that benefit peace, mutual trust and cooperation.
17 февраля
CCTV: Yesterday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the practices of hyping up “Russia’s invasion on Ukraine” again, saying that she has not seen such a number of disinformation, slander and lies in a concentrated form for a long time. However, the US side alleged that the risk of further Russian military “aggression” against Ukraine remains. What’s your take on that?
Wang Wenbin: Disseminating disinformation and creating an air of tension is not conducive to resolving the Ukraine issue. Clamoring for bloc confrontation and wielding the big stick of sanctions will only impede dialogue and negotiation. The US side should value and accommodate Russia’s legitimate and reasonable concerns over security guarantees and play a constructive role for all parties to seek a political settlement to the Ukraine issue on the basis of the Minsk-2 agreement, rather than hype up and sensationalize the crisis and escalate tensions. China supports all efforts in keeping with the direction and spirit of the Minsk-2 agreement.
18 февраля
CCTV: On February 17, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the UN Security Council that US information indicates that Russia “takes steps down the path to war” and is “preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days”. By sharing the intelligence, he added, the US aims “not to start a war, but to prevent one”. Does China have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: The credibility of the US intelligence community has been tested on many occasions, including Iraq and Ukraine.
l21 февраля
State Councilor Wang Yi answered questions on China’s position regarding the security of Europe and the situation concerning Ukraine. He stated China’s consistent view that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected and safeguarded. The only viable way to resolve the Ukraine issue is to return to the Minsk-2 agreement, the starting point of this matter, as soon as possible. Relevant parties should sit down together to work out a roadmap and timetable for the implementation of the agreement and work for peace, instead of increasing tensions, stoking panic, or hyping up war. Ukraine should be a bridge for communication between the East and the West, not a frontier for confrontation between major powers. China hopes all parties will pursue dialogue and consultation to find a solution that is truly conducive to safeguarding the security of Europe.
22 февраля
AFP: China has always supported the principle of non-interference and respect for state sovereignty. Has Russia’s recognition of “separatist regions” violated the sovereignty of Ukraine?
Wang Wenbin: This morning, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon invitation. State Councilor Wang Yi expounded China’s position on the Ukraine issue in the conversation.
China is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Ukraine. China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent. The legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld. What has happened on the Ukraine issue has muchtodo with thelongdelay inthe effective implementation of the Minsk-2 agreement. China will continue to engage all parties based on the merits of the matter itself. The situation in Ukraine is getting worse. China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint, appreciatethe importance of implementing the principle of indivisible security, and de-escalate
23 февраля
On the Ukraine issue, lately the US has been sending weapons to Ukraine, heightening tensions, creating panic and even hyping up the possibility of warfare. In stark contrast, China has all along called on all parties to respect and attach importance to each other’s legitimate security concerns, strive to resolve issues through negotiation and consultation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. President Xi Jinping stressed in a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on February 16 that relevant parties should stick to the general direction of political settlement, make full use of multilateral platforms including the Normandy format, and seek a comprehensive settlement of the Ukraine issue through dialogue and consultation. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also stressed while attending a special event on China during the 58th Munich Security Conference that all sides should earnestly assume their responsibility and work for peace instead of increasing tensions, stoking panic, or hyping up war.
A key question here is what role the US, the culprit of current tensions surrounding Ukraine, has played. If someone keeps pouring oil on the flame while accusing others of not doing their best to put out the fire, such kind of behavior is clearly irresponsible and immoral.
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There is a complex historical context on the Ukraine issue and the current situation is the result of the interplay of many complicated factors. In order to have an objective understanding of the situation and seek a reasonable and peaceful settlement, it is necessary to learn the whole story on the Ukraine issue and properly address each other’s legitimate security concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Certain countries should ask themselves: When the US drove five waves of NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia’s doorstep and deployed advanced offensive strategic weapons in breach of its assurances to Russia, did it ever think about the consequences of pushing a big country to the wall?
Under the current circumstances, the door to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine issue is not completely shut. We hope relevant parties concerned can stay cool-headed and rational, and commit themselves to a peaceful resolution through negotiation in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China will continue to promote peace talks in its own way. We welcome and encourage all efforts dedicated to advancing diplomatic settlement of the issue.
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The Ukraine issue has a complicated historical background. The current situation is the result of the interplay of multiple factors. I noted that the Russian side has said on many occasions that it does not intend to start a war on Ukraine and stands ready to have dialogue with the US and relevant sides on Ukraine’s accession to NATO.
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The current situation in Ukraine is the result of various factors working together and has much to do with the long delay in the effective implementation of the Minsk-2 agreement. Even today, we still hope that relevant sides could exercise restraint, deescalate the situation through dialogue and consultation, and avoid further escalation.
24 февраля
We have stated China’s principled position on the Ukraine issue. There is a complex historical background and context on this issue. The current situation is the result of the interplay of various factors.
We noted that today Russia announced its launch of a special military operation in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s defense ministry said that its armed forces will not conduct missile, air or artillery strikes on cities. China is closely monitoring the latest developments and calls on all sides to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control.
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The US has been increasing tensions and hyping up war for some time. Do you know how many arms and ammunition the US has sent to Ukraine?
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China is closely following the development of the situation. The current situation in Ukraine is not what we wish to see. So we continue to call on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation as soon as possible so as to ease the tension.
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When we see the risk of conflict, we won’t do the same as the US, who has offered Ukraine a large amount of military equipment. I believe that as a strong country, Russia doesn’t need China or other countries to provide weapons to it.
25 февраля
At the same time, we recognize that the Ukraine issue has a complex and special historical context and understand Russia’s legitimate concerns on security issues. China maintains that all should discard the Cold War mentality and eventually put in place a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through dialogue and negotiation.
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The Ukraine issue has complex historical context and realistic factors. China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and remains unchanged. We hope relevant parties, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, are committed to resolving differences through negotiation, addressing the legitimate concerns of all parties and avoiding further escalation of the situation.
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We always maintain that the Ukraine issue has a very complex historical context and all parties’ security concerns should be respected. All should completely discard the Cold War mentality, seek comprehensive resolution of Ukraine and other related issues through dialogue and negotiation, and eventually put in place a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism.
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Following the abrupt deterioration of the situation in Ukraine, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with the foreign ministers of Russia and the US by phone respectively, pointing out that any country’s legitimate security concerns should be respected and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld. He also called on all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate the situation and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation.
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That being said, we recognize the special historical complexities surrounding the Ukraine issue and understand Russia’s legitimate security concerns. We hold that the Cold War mentality should be completely discarded and efforts should be made to eventually forge a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture in Europe.
28 февраля
At the same time we recognize the special historical complexities on the Ukraine issue and understand Russia’s legitimate security concerns. China calls for efforts to completely discard the Cold War mentality and forge a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through dialogue and negotiation.