In view of the current situation in Russia and Ukraine, China has stated its position on many occasions, but some countries still turn a deaf ear and even use some absurd threatening remarks to force China to "choose sides."
According to Reuters local time reported on March 16, Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomenas "linked" the unrelated China-EU summit to the Situation between Russia and Ukraine on the same day, claiming that before China made it clear whether to "stand in Russia" or "in the West" on the situation between Russia and Ukraine, it should cancel the upcoming China-EU summit.
Lithuania, one of the 27 member states of the European Union, has previously said it plans to hold a high-level meeting with China on April 1, possibly in the form of a video, to ease rising tensions between the two sides. However, Adomenas, who represents the cube, went so far as to tell Reuters: "Now is not the time to normalize [China-EU relations]. ”
Screenshot of the Reuters report
"In our opinion, this is very anachronistic. Given the recent developments in the (Russia-Ukraine conflict), the [China-EU summit] should be cancelled, or at least significantly postponed, until we see which side China is on. Adomenas pressed the EU.
Adomenas also claimed: "It is time to show China that we are serious and that they cannot expect to play such an ambiguous role, supporting Russia on the one hand and taking advantage of trade opportunities with the EU on the other, with no consequences." ”
Adomenas stressed that Lithuania was concerned about Russia's "broader intentions", but acknowledged that "there is still a lot of work to be done" to persuade other EU member states not to hold a China-EU summit.
Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomenas (infographic)
Reuters pointed out that the EU regards China as a "strategic competitor" in some areas, but even if China imposes sanctions on some members of the European Parliament and punishes Lithuania for allowing the Taiwan authorities to set up "representative offices" in the name of "Taiwan", the European side still encourages China to reform trade rules under the framework of the World Trade Organization.
Since Russia launched a "special military operation" against Ukraine, some U.S. officials (such as U.S. Presidential National Security Adviser Sullivan) have claimed that if China helps Russia evade sanctions, give economic support, or provide substantial military support, it will face consequences including sanctions. On Tuesday (15th), NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg also shouted that "China should condemn Russia's 'invasion'".
Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Adomenas, who met with U.S. officials in Washington, went so far as to claim that China is not an "honest intermediary" and cannot be expected to help mediate and resolve the current Russian-Ukrainian crisis, as suggested. "Of course, if China participates in Russia's military operations in any way and assists it in military operations, it should be sanctioned."
Adamenas also said that the West can do more to support Ukraine, including providing more advanced weapons, such as the US Patriot surface-to-air missile defense system. As for Russia, he said more Russian oligarchs and their relatives should be sanctioned, and believed that Europe should consider imposing an oil embargo on Russia.
On March 17, local time, near Kiev, Ukraine, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict continued, and the local smoke billowed out. The picture is from the surging image
In recent days, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has made many remarks on the current situation in Russia and Ukraine. He said that on the Ukraine issue, china has always acted in an objective and impartial manner and made judgments independently and autonomously according to the merits of the matter itself. China has always advocated respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, abided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, attached importance to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, supported all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, and worked to persuade and promote peace and talks to ease the humanitarian situation. China's position is clear, fair and objective, and beyond reproach. In fact, this is consistent with the position of the vast majority of countries in the world.
Zhao Lijian also stressed that recently, the US side has successively spread false information against China on the Ukraine issue, with sinister intentions. China has stated its position on the issue of relevant sanctions on many occasions, and China is not in favor of using sanctions to solve the problem, let alone unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. China strongly demands that the US side must not harm China's legitimate rights and interests in handling its relations with Russia.
This article is an exclusive manuscript of the Observer Network and may not be reproduced without authorization.