Politics, Asia - Pacific, Russia-Ukraine War

China says Xi-Biden phone call 'opportunity to exchange views' on Ukraine crisis

Beijing blames Washington for fueling crisis in Ukraine which is under war by Russia since Feb. 24

Riyaz ul Khaliq  | 18.03.2022 - Update : 18.03.2022
China says Xi-Biden phone call 'opportunity to exchange views' on Ukraine crisis

ISTANBUL 

The expected phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden is an “opportunity to exchange views on the Ukraine crisis,” China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

“Upon invitation (from Washington), this phone call is an important opportunity to exchange views on the Ukraine crisis,” Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said during a news conference streamed live.

Zhao, however, blamed the US for the crisis that erupted with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The White House on Thursday announced that the two presidents will hold a phone talk, which is an “opportunity” to assess Beijing's stance on the Ukraine war.

“The absence of denunciation by China of what Russia is doing, this flies in the face, of course, of everything China stands for,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a news conference.

Xi and Biden held their last phone call in November.

Beijing has restrained from condemning the Russia-Ukraine war and instead stressed dialogue and peaceful solution to the crisis, including taking care of security sensitivities of all sides.

Zhao, however, said the US security assistance to Ukraine in the past one week has been $1billion.

“Whether arms assistance will bring stability in Ukraine, or will it cause more civilian casualties in that country,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson questioned.

“What do Ukrainians need more: food and sleeping bags or mortar guns?” he asked, referring to arms transfer from the US to Kiev in its battle against Moscow.

Russia has launched its war against Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has drawn international condemnation, led to sweeping financial sanctions and export controls on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 780 civilians have been killed and 1,252 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN, which says the true number is likely much higher.

Nearly 3.17 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, according to UN figures.

“The US is the main culprit of the Ukraine crisis,” Zhao claimed. “The US should reflect upon the role it played in the Ukraine crisis … work to resolve the conflict instead adding fuel to the fire and (then) blame others.”

He further said: “Why have the Americans been denigrating China instead of pondering upon the persistent expansion of NATO that led to security crisis in Europe?”

The NATO’s eastward expansion “caused serious regional imbalance,” he added.

Calling Washington’s behavior “hypocritical,” Zhao said the US “did not follow advisory of its experts including (Henry) Kissinger that Ukraine should not be ground of confrontation between Russia and West.”

He asked: “Why US chose to send support to Ukraine despite their efforts in eastward expansion?”

Expressing “deep grief” over civilian casualties in Ukraine, Zhao urged Western media to “some soul searching.”

Western media “are first ones to evacuate their officials from Ukraine,” he said, asking: “Why Ukraine should become party in competition between major countries.”

He said the US behavior “reflects guilty conscience and its true intention is of profiteering from the Ukraine crisis.”

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