China wants to avoid sanctions fallout on Russia: Foreign minister

BEIJING

China is not a party to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and does not want to be affected by sanctions against Moscow, according to the nation’s foreign minister.

Wang Yi has told his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares, that China does not want to be affected by Western sanctions imposed on Russia because of the war with Ukraine.

“China is not a party to the crisis, nor does it want the sanctions to affect China,” Yi told Jose Manuel Albares, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Stressing that China has never supported a resolution to problems with sanctions, Yi said Beijing has always opposed unilateral sanctions that have no equivalent in international law.

Such steps will reduce the importance of international rules, he said, adding that they will adversely affect the welfare of all the people of the country.

“China has the right to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” he said.

Yi underlined that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has encouraged peace talks since the beginning of the conflict.

He hopes the fourth round of talks will lead to acceptable progress for all parties.

Albares said the situation in Ukraine threatens peace and stability in Europe and Spain hopes the war will end as soon as possible through dialogue and diplomatic means.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian accused the US of spreading “disinformation” to “smear China.”

His accusation followed major Western media outlets reporting that Russia had asked China for military equipment and support for its war in Ukraine.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that Beijing will pay “consequences for l large-scale sanctions evasion efforts or support to Russia to backfill them.”

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 636 civilians have been killed and 1,125 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

More than 3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar