Xi bristles at criticism of China over the war in Ukraine
CHINESE President Xi Jinping, on a two-day visit to France, spoke out firmly against criticism of his country for its close relationship with Russia during the war in Ukraine, saying that “we oppose the crisis being used to cast responsibility on a third country, sully its image and incite a new cold war.”
Flanked by French President Emmanuel Macron, with whom he held several rounds of talks Monday, Xi stiffened as he defended China’s role, recalling it was “not at the origin of this crisis, nor a party to it, nor a participant.”
The bristling remark appeared aimed principally at the United States, which believes that China, aside from buying enormous amounts of Russian oil and gas, continues to aid Russia’s war in Ukraine by providing satellite imagery to Russian forces along with jet fighter parts, microchips and other dual-use equipment.
Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, who attended a morning session of talks, pressured Xi to use his influence on Russia to bring the war to an end. Xi will host Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing later this month, but there was no suggestion — other than a general wish for peace — that he would ask his “no limits” ally to stop the war.
The talks in Paris took place as Putin again suggested he might be prepared to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.
Addressing Xi, the French president said, “Without security for Ukraine there can be no security for Europe.” Macron added, with respect to the war, that France and China “must maintain a close dialogue.”
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The atmosphere between Xi and Macron was friendly and full of mutual congratulation at the fruits of the 60-year diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
At a separate French-Chinese business summit attended by top executives, Xi said, “Between our two countries there is no geopolitical tension nor any fundamental conflict.”
The two leaders called jointly for an “Olympics truce” — a pause in all fighting in all conflicts across the world for the duration of the Paris Olympics from July 26 to Aug 11. NYTIMES
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