Китайские транскрипты и Украина - апрель 2022
1 апреля
As a product of the Cold War, NATO should have been disbanded after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. In the early 1990s, former US Secretary of State James Baker made his “not one inch eastward” assurance regarding NATO expansion to then President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. As the culprit and the leading instigator of the Ukraine crisis, the US has led NATO in pursuing five rounds of eastward expansion in the two decades or so since 1999. NATO’s membership has increased from 16 to 30 countries and the organization moved over 1,000 kilometers eastward to somewhere near Russia’s borders, pushing the latter to the wall.
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Global Times: Recently, Russia has spoken about the US’ bio-military activities in Ukraine on multiple occasions, saying that relevant activities violate the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), designating US-funded labs in Russia’s neighboring countries as “bio-weapons labs” and stressing that more and more evidence indicates that the US has conducted synthetic biology research for military purposes in Ukraine. It also expressed hope that the BWC state parties will have consultation on the issue of compliance and launch investigations into possible violations of the convention. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: I noted relevant reports and the fact that the US has not yet made any constructive response to Russia’s accusations.
The US has conducted the most bio-military activities in the world, yet it is the only country opposing the establishment of a multilateral verification mechanism. The international community has good reason to question the US’ bio-military activities. As a state party to the BWC, the US has the obligation to abide by the stipulations of the convention and endeavor to address the international community’s concerns by making clarifications or through consultations.
We welcome a fair, objective and professional assessment by the international community on the documents disclosed by the Russian side under the framework of the BWC and the United Nations, during which the US’ clarifications will also be included and considered. Through such process, the international community will be able to make a fair judgment on the US' compliance with the Convention. We hope the US will give constructive responses so as to restore the international community’s confidence in its compliance with the convention.
I want to stress that the US has been apt to point fingers at others. Without solid evidence, it accused other countries of not observing the convention and demanded that they accept verification, using that as a pretext to impose illegal unilateral sanctions and even waging wars while circumventing the UN Security Council. However, when it comes to its own compliance, the US has tried to muddle through, which is unacceptable. The question of whether a country complies with the BWC or not bears on international peace and security, and thus can by no means decided by the US alone with double standard.
In the meantime, ensuring compliance through verification is a consensus of the international community. Setting up a verification mechanism is the best means to ensure the authority and efficacy of all treaties in the fields of arms control and disarmament, and there should no exception for bio-safety. Such endeavor should still less be held back due to the opposition from the US, the one and only country doing so. The US should stop standing alone in obstructing the resumption of the negotiations on a verification protocol under the BWC.
6 апреля
Since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out, the US has been increasing unilateral sanctions on Russia and coercing other countries to take side. This report you mentioned points out that in the past eight years from 2014, a group of countries, led by the United States, imposed 8,068 sanctions designations on Russia, making it the most sanctioned country in the world followed by Iran. Since February 22 this year, 5,314 new sanctions designations have been slapped on Russia.
I also noted that Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Mikhail Popov said, in a contrasting move to its pressuring of European countries to not buy Russian oil, the US increased crude oil imports from Russia by 43% to 100,000 barrels per day over the past week, and allowed its companies to import mineral fertilizers from Russia. The ongoing war and sanctions have incurred an influx of refugees, capital outflow and energy shortage in Europe, but enabled the US to earn profit and make a fortune.
History and reality have made it clear that sanctions cannot guarantee peace or security, and will only lead to a lose-lose situation, further impacting the already languishing world economy and the existing global economic system. If the US is serious about easing the situation in Ukraine, it should stop adding fuel to the fire, stop imposing sanctions, stop coercive words and deeds and truly commit to promote peace talks.
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The reports and images of civilian deaths in Bucha are deeply disturbing. The relevant circumstances and specific causes of the incident must be verified and ascertained.
7 апреля
Helsingin Sanomat: Finland is considering if it should apply to join NATO very soon. Russia’s attack on Ukraine changed dramatically Finland’s attitude toward NATO membership. China has earlier stated that China is against NATO’s enlargement. If Finland applies to join NATO soon, how will China react?
Zhao Lijian: First, I don’t answer hypothetical questions. China’s position on NATO’s eastward expansion is very clear. NATO was born out of the Cold War and should have long become a past tense. We advise relevant countries to exercise prudence in developing relations with NATO.
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Hubei Media Group: The Preparatory Committee meeting for the 9th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was being held in Geneva these days. Russia said the US biomilitary activities in Ukraine have violated the BWC. The US accused Russia of spreading disinformation and called international criticism of US standing alone in opposing a BWC verification mechanism “revisionist history”. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: The US has conducted more biomilitary activities than any other countries and is the only country that opposes the establishment of a BWC verification mechanism in the world. The international community has long held grave concerns over this and the relevant issues remain the focus of the BWC meetings. At the second PrepCom this week, Russia made the accusation that the US’ biomilitary activities have violated the convention and raised explicit and specific concerns. Regrettably, the US has not directly responded to that yet. Instead, it just kept accusing Russia of spreading disinformation. Such practice in itself is not consistent with the stipulations of the convention. According to the BWC, the Russian side has the right to question the US’ compliance with the convention, and the US has the obligation to make clarifications, and the final judgment should be passed by the international community through assessment.
Also, I need to draw your attention to a basic fact. According to the working document the US submitted to the BWC Meeting of States Parties in November 2021, under the Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP), the US has 336 so-called cooperation facilities overseas, including 26 in Ukraine. However, the so-called Fact Sheet released by the US Department of Defense on March 11, 2022 claimed that there are 46 such facilities in Ukraine. Why did the number increase by 20 in just four months? Besides, there are mistakes in the above-mentioned working document, in which a country was listed mistakenly for twice. So the total number of “336” must be inaccurate, too. This gives good reason for the international community to raise doubt, but what reason is there for the US to refuse to make any clarifications and call that disinformation?
11 апреля
AFP: On Friday, a missile strike at a railway station in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk killed 52 people, including children. Who does China hold responsible for this attack?
Zhao Lijian: China attaches importance to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and is highly concerned with the harm done to civilians. We have put forward a six-point initiative on alleviating the humanitarian situation and taken concrete steps to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. You just raised the report on the attack on a train station. The relevant circumstances and specific causes of the incident must be verified and ascertained. At the same time, we believe that humanitarian issues shouldn’t be politicized. Any accusations should be based on facts. Before the full picture is clear, all sides should exercise restraint and avoid unfounded accusations.
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Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, the US has been frequently pressuring countries into sanctioning Russia, and those who refuse to do so will pay a “price”. However, escalating sanctions won’t help ease the situation, but will create new problems in the world struggling with the pandemic.
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If the US truly hopes to deescalate the situation in Ukraine, it should stop exploiting the chaos for profits, earnestly promote peace talks and facilitate peace with concrete steps.
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For quite some time, we are hearing reasonable voices on the Russia-Ukraine situation from more and more people in the international community. Their reflection on the historical context of the Ukraine issue and the culprit of the current situation merits attention.
It came to my attention that some European strategists believe the US is comparable to the “top arsonist” in the conflict. It ignited the flames of war and left the trouble in Europe. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, to a large extent, is the result of Western arrogance and successive mistakes over the last 30-plus years and NATO’s eastward expansion is the root cause of the ongoing conflict. Such views coincide with the warning sounded by George Kennan, Dr. Henry Kissinger and other people from the strategic community in the US. Three decades ago, the US thought it could dominate the world and have its way after winning the Cold War. Over the 30 years that ensued, it worked for five waves of NATO’s eastward expansion in a high-profile manner in disregard of Russia’s security concerns. As the world’s people can see, instead of bringing about peace, NATO’s expansion has led to seriously damaged mutual trust and regional turmoil and tensions to the extent that the situation is spiraling out of control.
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Reuters: Again on dialogue. Has China asked Vladimir Putin to speak directly with Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
Zhao Lijian: High-level exchange has been maintained between China and Russia. President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with President Putin, and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had talks with Foreign Minister Lavrov. In all these and other bilateral meetings between China and Russia, China has been calling on Russia and Ukraine to have dialogue and negotiation, which we believe is the only way to ultimately resolve the Ukraine issue.
AFP: I’d like to go back to the attack in Kramatorsk if that’s okay. Both Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for this attack, although the US, the EU and the UK have just blamed Russia. Does China also think Russia did it?
Zhao Lijian: We also noted that Russia and Ukraine have very different assertions about the situation. Given what has happened in Syria and other places, conclusions have to be drawn based on facts. China supports just, independent and transparent investigation into the incident. Before the full picture is clear, all parties should exercise restraint and avoid making unfounded accusations and escalating the situation.
AFP: I just want to follow up one more time on that. Do you therefore believe that there’s a possibility that Ukrainian officials are lying about who perpetrated the attack or that they could have somehow launched this attack against their own civilians?
Zhao Lijian: I just made China’s position very clear. Russia and Ukraine each have different assertions about the situation. Only after independent and just investigation can truth be found.
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I also want to stress that there are complex historical merits on the Ukraine issue.
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Reuters: You just said that China has been actively promoting peace. Russia said it’s gonna focus on the east of Ukraine in its operations. It looks like there’s gonna be some really heavy battles coming up in the east of Ukraine. Has China asked Russia to hold back and avoid the loss of more lives in Ukraine?
Zhao Lijian: I just elaborated on China’s position on the Ukraine issue. China always believes that dialogue and negotiation is the only right path to resolving the Ukraine issue. China supports Russia and Ukraine in keeping the peace talks going despite the difficulties. We also welcome the joint support from the international community for Russia-Ukraine peace talks and the effort to maintain the momentum of negotiations for peaceful outcomes. China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace talks in our own way.
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AFP: According to media reports, Serbia took the delivery of a Chinese anti-aircraft system at the weekend. Can China confirm that transfer took place? And does it contain Chinese Air Force’s Y-20 transport planes and HQ-22 surface-to-air missiles as was reported? And is this deal related in some way to the ongoing war in Ukraine?
Zhao Lijian: To follow through on the bilateral cooperation plan, China has recently sent air force transport planes to deliver conventional military items to Serbia. This is a cooperation project that falls under our annual plan. We hope relevant media can avoid reading too much into it. This project is not targeted at any third party, nor does it have anything to do with the current situation.
12 апреля
The ins-and-outs of the unfolding Ukraine issue are crystal clear. The moves of the US-led NATO have escalated the tension between Russia and Ukraine to the breaking point. The US, instead of taking real actions to ease the situation, has been incessantly adding fuel to the flame, heightening the conflict, forcing other countries to pick sides and creating a chilling effect of “friend or foe”. What could this represent other than hegemony and bullying? The US has also been constantly spreading disinformation to smear China and distort China’s responsible position of facilitating peace talks. It harbors the agenda to shift the blame, instigate confrontation, profit from the situation and seek space to hold down China and Russia simultaneously. What could this be other than hegemony and bullying?
The Ukraine issue has revealed what the US would do in pursuit of hegemony and bullying. But the list of US’ practices of the same nature goes on. Holding on to the Cold War mentality, the US is obsessed with drawing ideological lines when forming closed and exclusive cliques and stoking opposition and confrontation. The real agenda is to prolong US’ hegemony and power politics. Under the go-to banner of democracy, freedom and human rights, the US instigates “color revolutions” that provoke regional disputes, and goes so far as to directly wage wars against other countries that aggravate tensions in the regional and global security situation.
13 апреля
As the culprit of the Ukraine crisis, the US should especially do some soul-searching, stop its old habit of throwing its weight around and add impetus to peace talks rather than fuel to the fire.
14 апреля
China Daily: Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the accusation of Russia’s use of chemical weapons is unfounded and the goal is to divert the international community’s attention from the biological laboratories discovered in Ukraine. Does China have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: I have noted the remarks. Indeed, the US has not yet given any convincing explanation for its bio-military activities. Undertaking consultation and cooperation to address concerns is a requirement of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). The US has no right to reject discussions on the issue.
The US remarks have so far been ambiguous and even self-contradictory, which aroused greater suspicion from the international community. People are asking: How many cooperation facilities is the US running across the world? How many biological samples did the US ship out of Ukraine according to bilateral agreement with the country and for what purpose? What is the sensitive information that Ukraine is not allowed to make public according to the agreement? Did the US conduct dangerous research overseas that is prohibited in the US?
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Hubei Media Group: Some US media have frequently made suspected racist remarks when covering the Ukraine crisis and the ensuing refugee problem. “These are not refugees from Syria ... They’re Christian, they’re white”, for example. What is your comment?
Zhao Lijian: I also noted such remarks, which have been deplored by the people of relevant countries and regions.
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Ukraine’s sovereignty and security should be upheld. Russia’s legitimate security concerns should also be respected.
15 апреля
The US has been constantly disseminating disinformation about the Ukraine crisis, flagrantly smearing China and driving a wedge between China and Russia with the agenda to profit from the repercussions of its blameshifting and confrontation incited among others. The US should focus more on its responsibility for the outbreak and escalation of the Ukraine crisis.
21 апреля
YTN: My question is on the Ukraine issue. According to reports, the US government said that they don’t want China to give any military support to Russia. I’d like to hear the Chinese government’s answer.
Wang Wenbin: To answer your first question, China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction without basis in international law and UN Security Council mandate as well as undue prohibition or restriction on normal economic and trade activities between Chinese and foreign companies. Imposing sanctions is not the right way to ease the situation, end the war and avoid more casualties. It will only exacerbate confrontation, trigger more spillover effects, and exact a heavier price on the world. There is no reason to make the people of all countries pay for a regional conflict.
Under the current situation, it is all the more important for the international community to pay attention to the negative moves undermining efforts for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, to the negative impact of the spillover effect of the Ukraine crisis and unilateral sanctions, to the resurgence of Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, and to the negative consequences of small- and medium-sized countries being caught up in the geopolitical contest of major countries. We urge the US to avoid undermining China’s legitimate rights and interests in any form when handling the Ukraine issue and relations with Russia. We will take all necessary measures to resolutely uphold the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals.
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China Daily: The US State Department Spokesperson said on April 20 that Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met in Brussels with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană and NATO Permanent Representatives, and “noted US concerns about the PRC’s support for Russia’s aggression, including through its amplification of Russian disinformation about NATO and Russia’s war in Ukraine”. Do you have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: What is disinformation? Efforts to discern disinformation should be based on objective facts, not subjective conjecture.
The bellicose US, under the cover of human rights and democracy, meddles in other countries’ affairs and starts conflicts and wars. It shoulders an unshirkable responsibility over the turmoil in Europe and elsewhere in the world. This is not disinformation. The vast majority of countries advocate resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and negotiation and oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that contravene international law. This is not disinformation. As European countries pay a heavy price for the conflict, American arms dealers and oil and gas companies have made a fortune. This is not disinformation.
On the contrary, it is pure disinformation to allege that China has acquiesced in and connived at Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and that Russia has requested military equipment from China.
The US should stop spreading disinformation to smear China, face up to and reflect on its due responsibility in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and work with the international community to facilitate an early political resolution of the Ukraine crisis, rather than let Europe and the whole world pay a dearer price for its selfish agenda.
22 апреля
As the culprit and leading instigator of the Ukraine crisis, the US has proclaimed vociferously to champion humanitarianism, but in fact only 12 Ukrainians managed to enter the US through its refugee program in March. According to US media reports, thousands of Ukrainian refugees are stuck along the US-Mexico border, some of whom are detained by the US. After the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, US arms dealers’ stock prices have soared. As of April 21, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman’s stock prices increased by 25.6% and 24% respectively.
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Phoenix TV: Regarding Russia's allegations that the United States is developing a biomilitary programs in Ukraines, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that the Russian military found some documents, which show that the US Department of Defense conducts bio-military programs in Ukraine. Russia has shared some facts with the UN and some other international organizations and asked the US for a detailed explanation. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: I noted relevant remarks. Indeed the US has not made any convincing explanations for its biomilitary activities yet.
The US statements have so far been largely ambiguous and even self-contradictory, which further reinforces the suspicions of the international community. For example, how many cooperation facilities is the US running across the world? How many biological samples did the US ship out of Ukraine according to bilateral agreement and for what purpose? What is the sensitive information that Ukraine is not allowed to make public according to the agreement? Did the US conduct dangerous research overseas that is prohibited in the US?
28 апреля
AFP: British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss yesterday criticized China for not condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, saying that China’s failure to play by global rules would cut short its rise as a superpower. Do you have any comment? Is China concerned that refusing to condemn Russia will affect its relations with the UK and Europe?
Wang Wenbin: You brought up British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’s relevant remarks. I noted that she mentioned rules. International rules should be the norms governing international relations that are based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, rather than rules defined by a certain clique or bloc.
Ms. Truss also mentioned NATO. Since the Cold War was long over, NATO, as a product of the Cold War and the world’s largest military alliance, should have made necessary adjustments in accordance with the changing times. However, NATO has long clung to the old security concept, engaged in bloc confrontation and become a tool for certain countries to seek hegemony. NATO claims to be a defensive organization, but in fact it is constantly creating confrontation and disturbances. NATO demands that other countries abide by the basic norms of international relations, yet has wantonly waged wars and dropped bombs in sovereign states, killing and displacing innocent civilians. NATO, a military organization in the North Atlantic, has in recent years come to the Asia-Pacific region to throw its weight around and stir up conflicts. The impact of NATO’s eastward expansion on the long-term peace and stability of Europe is worth reflecting upon. NATO has messed up Europe. Is it now trying to mess up the Asia-Pacific and even the world?
29 апреля
My colleagues and I have repeatedly pointed out that the conflict may appear to be a conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but in fact it is one between Russia and the US-led NATO.
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The US breached its assurances and continuously promoted the eastward expansion of NATO, which is undoubtedly responsible for the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis