Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Union\u2019s top diplomat that Beijing can\u2019t accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China, an official briefed on the talks said, contradicting Beijing\u2019s public position of neutrality in the conflict. <\/p>\n
The admission came during what the official said was a four-hour meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday in Brussels that \u201cfeatured tough but respectful exchanges, covering a broad range of issues from cyber security, rare earths to trade imbalances, Taiwan and Middle East.\u201d <\/p>\n
The official said Wang\u2019s private remarks suggested Beijing might prefer a protracted war in Ukraine that keeps the United States from focusing on its rivalry with China. They echo concerns of critics of China\u2019s policy that Beijing has geopolitically much more at stake in the Ukrainian conflict than its admitted position of neutrality. <\/p>\n
On Friday, at a regular Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing, spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the exchange, which was \ufddffirst reported in the South China Morning Post, and re-affirmed Beijing\u2019s long-standing position on the three-year war. <\/p>\n
\u201cChina is not a party to the Ukraine issue,\u201d Mao said. \u201cChina\u2019s position on the Ukraine crisis is objective and consistent, that is, negotiation, ceasefire and peace. A prolonged Ukraine crisis serves no one\u2019s interests.\u201d <\/p>\n
She added that China wanted a political settlement as quickly as possible: \u201cTogether with the international community and in light of the will of the parties concerned, we will continue playing a constructive role towards this end.\u201d <\/p>\n
China\u2019s public statements on the Ukraine war mask a more complex picture. <\/p>\n
Just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared a \u201cno limits\u201d partnership with Moscow and since then political and economic ties have strengthened. <\/p>\n
China has also rejected growing accusations it is providing near-military support to Russia. Ukraine has sanctioned several Chinese companies for providing Russia drone components and technology for use in missile production. <\/p>\n