China does not want to be hit by Western economic sanctions against Russia, China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, as pressure grows on Beijing to withdraw support from Moscow.
Beijing has refused to condemn its close ally Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, and blamed the United States and NATO's "expansion to the East" for exacerbating tensions.
"China is not a party to the crisis, let alone wants to be subject to sanctions," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a transcript of a phone call with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares published on Tuesday (15/3).
China "has always opposed the use of sanctions to solve problems, let alone unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law," Wang said, as quoted by Channel News Asia.
Wang's comments came after a seven-hour meeting between top US and Chinese officials in Rome, Italy, with Washington expressing concern about the "alignment" of relations between Russia and China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Tuesday that Beijing "strongly urges the US not to jeopardize China's legitimate rights and interests when dealing with relations with Russia".
Asked about the article that said Moscow had asked Beijing for help, Zhao accused the US of "spreading disinformation" against China.
"Our goal is very clear, to promote de-escalation of the situation and end the conflict," he stressed.
In Rome's meeting Monday (14/3) with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi reiterated his country's stance that Beijing is "committed to promoting peace talks", Xinhua reported on Tuesday (15/3).
China called on all parties to exercise "maximum restraint" and "protect civilians" in the Ukraine crisis. The international community should support such talks to achieve substantive results as soon as possible, Yang added.
Subscribe Daily Post or Follow Google News to update information quickly, Thank you..!!