NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said that the military alliance has seen “some signs” that China might be planning to support Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and strongly urged Beijing to desist from what would be a violation of international law.
Stoltenberg also told reporters in an interview that the alliance, while not a party to the war, would support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”
Asked whether NATO has any indication that China might be ready to provide arms or other support to Russia’s war, Stoltenberg said: “We have seen some signs that they may be planning for that and of course NATO allies, the United States, have been warning against it, because this is something that should not happen. China should not support Russia’s illegal war.”
Photo: AFP
Stoltenberg said potential Chinese assistance would amount to providing “[direct] support to a blatant violation of international law, and of course [as] a member of the UN Security Council, China should not in any way support violation of the UN Charter or international law.”
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official — Wang Yi (王毅) — raising concern in the West that Beijing might be ready to offer Moscow stronger support in the year-old war.
China has pointedly refused to criticize the invasion of Ukraine, while echoing Moscow’s claim that the US and NATO were to blame for provoking the Russian government.
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