China urges restraint amid nuclear tensions and missile attacks
In the context of changes in Russian nuclear strategy and reports on Ukraine's use of American missiles to attack Russian territory, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, emphasised on Wednesday that "all parties should remain calm and exercise restraint."
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved amendments to the nuclear doctrine, stating that the use of nuclear weapons by Moscow would be justified by a "critical threat" to the sovereignty of Belarus and Russia, as well as the permission to use territory and resources for aggression against Russia.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, accused the West of seeking to escalate the conflict after Kyiv used American ATACMS missiles to attack Russia for the first time in history.
Chinese Foreign Ministry comments
- Under the current circumstances, all parties should remain calm and exercise restraint, working together through dialogue and consultation to ease tensions and reduce strategic risks - said Lin Jian during a meeting with the media.
Lin Jian added that he would like to emphasise that China hopes all parties will promote de-escalation, engage in a political resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, and continue to play a constructive role in this endeavour.
Beijing maintains that it remains neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, not providing military support to either side. Despite this, China has not condemned Russian aggression or the involvement of North Korean soldiers and also opposes the sanctions imposed on Russia. There is growing cooperation between Beijing and Moscow in various fields, including the military sphere, encompassing joint military exercises.
