China is trying to make its best impression of Switzerland. The super-powers Foreign Minster Qin Gang stated that China would remain neutral and not provide any weapons to either side of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On April 15, 2023, Qin tried to quell Western countries’ concerns saying the Russian Federation would not sell any Russian weapons to the Ukraine government.
Along with its neutral stance, China indicated it would like to try to end the conflict between the neighboring nations. While relations between Russia and Ukraine have been in military conflict for the past eight years. Russian boots on the ground began in February 2022.
During a news conference, Qin Gang is currently the highest-ranking Chinese leader to comment on arms sales between Russia and Ukraine. China will provide and regulate exported items for both military and civilian use. Although he failed to define the “dual use” of military and civilian for items sent to Ukraine or Russia conforming to current laws and international regulations
At the same news conference, Qin condemned the Taiwan government for escalating tensions in China’s attempts to claim Taiwan as China territory.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said U.S. Intelligence Agencies found evidence of China giving arms and ammunition to Russian forces to use against Ukraine. Blinken warned that arming Russia could present a “serious problem.”
Given China’s record of truth being suspect, the White House’s view of China’s neutrality was greeted with some skepticism. The National Security Council will closely monitor China’s actions.
Similar warnings have been issued by European leaders visiting China, and any Russian support would be viewed as a violation of China’s commitments to the United Nations.
The United Nations gave five nations permanent seats on the Security Council based on each nation’s contributions to World War II.
China, along with the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia, are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. As such, China has a special responsibility to try to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
