Китайские транскрипты и Украина - сентябрь 2022

2 сентября

Half a year on since the Ukraine crisis fully escalated, it’s been proven once again that US and other Western unilateral sanctions do not solve the problem. Moreover, these sanctions have spilled over and backfired, generating an impact that has kept snowballing and spreading.

The US created the Ukraine crisis in the first place, but has now become the biggest winner sitting across the ocean and profiting from the crisis. This calls for reflection and vigilance.

13 сентября

Reuters: Recently, the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive has led to the withdrawal of Russian troops from a large swath of Ukrainian territory in what some analysts and government officials refer to as a turning point in this war. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on these recent developments? And can it say whether the Russian-Ukrainian conflict will be a topic of discussion in the upcoming SCO summit?

Mao Ning: Our position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent. We call on parties concerned to realize a ceasefire through dialogue and negotiation and find a way to accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties concerned as soon as possible. Also, we hope the international community will create the conditions and space for that.

15 сентября

AFP: According to reports, President Xi Jinping will meet with President Vladimir Putin this afternoon. Can the foreign ministry share anything about the meeting? Will the two sides exchange views on the Ukraine crisis?

Mao Ning: We will release information if there’s any. Please follow our updates.

16 сентября

AFP: During yesterday’s meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, the two sides agreed to extend mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests. Does this include China’s support for Russia on the Ukraine issue?

Mao Ning: On September 15, President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand to exchange views on China-Russia relations and international and regional issues of shared interest. China and Russia offer each other strong support on issues concerning each other’s core interests. As each other’s largest neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia have always followed the guidance of the common understandings between our two heads of state in growing bilateral relations and advancing exchange and cooperation in various sectors. If there’s anything more you wish to know, I’d like to refer you to our readout.

21 сентября

Bloomberg: Earlier, President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that he would use all available means in the fight over Ukraine. What’s the foreign ministry’s comment on Vladimir Putin’s latest words about the escalation of force on Ukraine?

Wang Wenbin: China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. We call on the parties concerned to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation and find a solution that accommodates all parties’ legitimate security concerns. We also hope the international community will create conditions and space for that.

TASS: The People’s Republic of Donetsk and Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia said that they will hold referendums on joining Russia from September 23 to 27. Do you have any comments on this?

Wang Wenbin: China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We believe that all countries deserve respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, that the legitimate security concerns of any country should be taken seriously, and that support should be given to all efforts that are conducive to peacefully resolving the crisis. We call on the parties concerned to properly address differences through dialogue and consultation. China stands ready to work with members of the international community to continue to play a constructive part in deescalation efforts. 

Reuters: Just to follow up on the questions about President Vladimir Putin’s televised address today, in these remarks, he also said that Russia would launch a partial military mobilization. This is Russia’s first mobilization since World War II. Is the foreign ministry concerned about how the situation is developing given that a military mobilization hasn’t been announced in such a long time?

Wang Wenbin: I already stated China’s position on the Ukraine crisis and I’m not going to go over it again.

23 сентября

Bloomberg: UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres recently expressed concern over plans to hold referendums in parts of Ukraine that are under Russian control. He said that any annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the UN Charter and international law. Does the Chinese foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: We’ve made clear our position on the Ukraine issue on multiple occasions. We believe that all countries deserve respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, that the legitimate security concerns of any country should be taken seriously, and that support should be given to all efforts that are conducive to peacefully resolving the crisis. We call on the parties concerned to properly address differences through dialogue and consultation. China stands ready to work with members of the international community to continue to play a constructive part in deescalation efforts. 

26 сентября

Bloomberg: President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has claimed that there are fewer communication channels between Ukraine and China compared to before. Specifically, he’s talking about leader-to-leader level communication. Could you tell us the reasons for that? 

Wang Wenbin: China and Ukraine are strategic partners. Since the two countries established diplomatic ties 30 years ago, cooperation in various fields between China and Ukraine has made good progress and exchanges at all levels have been smooth. Our two countries have also conducted active cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Last year, bilateral trade hit $19.3 billion, up by 29.7% year-on-year. Cooperation in such areas as agriculture, infrastructure and COVID-19 response has proceeded smoothly. China stands ready to work with Ukraine to maintain the momentum in our cooperation and continue to enrich the China-Ukraine strategic partnership.

China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. We always follow an objective and fair approach, stand for peace and will continue to play a constructive part in deescalation efforts in our own way. 

Reuters: Voting in referendums in Ukraine aimed at annexing territory to Russia enters the 4th day on Monday. Does China recognize these referendums in the four eastern Ukraine regions?

Wang Wenbin: I replied to a related question last week. Let me refer you to that.

27 сентября

NHK: The UN Security Council held an urgent meeting on the referendums on joining Russia in eastern and southern Ukraine. What is China’s position on this? 

Wang Wenbin: Let me first reiterate China’s long-standing position that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be observed, that the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and that all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises must be supported. On the Ukraine issue, China always stands on the side of peace and has been committed to promoting peace talks. We are ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive part in deescalating the situation.

The Security Council, as the core of the international collective security mechanism, needs to make full use of the mediation tools provided for in the UN Charter and steer the situation in the right direction of ending the fighting and promoting dialogue. The Council needs to take constructive and responsible actions in particular to accumulate conditions and open up space for a political resolution.

28 сентября

AFP: China told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that Ukraine’s territorial integrity should be respected, stopping short of explicitly condemning Russia. Why? Will this send a wrong signal to separatists in other parts of the world, especially in the Taiwan region?

Wang Wenbin: Let me first reiterate China’s consistent and clear position on the Ukraine issue. We believe that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be observed, that the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and that all efforts conducive to peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported. As a responsible major country, China has all along been committed to promoting peace talks. We are never a bystander, and we would never add fuel to the fire, still less exploit the crisis. We will always stand on the side of peace and will continue to play a constructive part in deescalating the situation.

30 сентября

NHK: Russian President Vladimir Putin will unilaterally announce today the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions into Russia. However,UN Secretary-General Guterres has strongly condemned these unilateral actions. China always says that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, and efforts should be made to uphold the UN-centered international system. How does China see the acts of Russia? 

Mao Ning: China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We believe that all countries deserve respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, that the legitimate security concerns of any country should be taken seriously, and that support should be given to all efforts that are conducive to peacefully resolving the crisis. We hope the parties concerned will properly address differences through dialogue and consultation. China stands ready to work with members of the international community to continue to play a constructive part in deescalation efforts.