The Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday that reports on Chinese and Russian coordination ahead of Russia’s attack on Ukraine are “fake news.”
Such practices of diverting attention and shifting blame are “despicable”, said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson at the foreign ministry, at a regular media briefing.
#BREAKING: When asked about #Beijing's stance on #Ukraine, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin says "#China and #Russia are strategic partners, but not allies" and Beijing will not interfere in the matters of a third party.
— Katrina Yu (@Katmyu) February 28, 2022
Senior Chinese officials told senior Russian officials in early February not to invade Ukraine before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the New York Times reported, quoting Biden administration officials and a European official who cited a Western intelligence report.
Stabilizers for the Future World
Russia and China seem to be preparing for a new cold war with the United States and its partners. In the joint statement, both countries have resisted US pressure, thus claiming to be the stabilizers for the changing world.
Putin’s visit coincides with the United States’ diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics, which was prompted by the Chinese human rights record.
Read more: Russia-China 2.0: Joint Statement on International Relations
It appears to be clear evidence of the two states fortifying their ties in the face of the United States. Correspondingly, the joint statement singles out the United States and its allies as fraudulent democracies.
Both leaders are opposed to external forces interfering in internal affairs. They agreed that there is no one-size-fits-all model for establishing democracy in the world. Based on its political system, cultural and historical context, any state can choose any method of implementing democracy.
Both parties criticize Western countries for imposing their democratic standards to maintain global hegemony. In a similar vein, they expressed grave concerns about NATO expansion, the US Indo-Pacific strategy, and the trilateral security partnership AUKUS.
Read more: Australia calls China’s ‘lifeline’ to Russia unacceptable
These concerns highlight Chinese and Russian ambitions to shape a new world order and serve as a stabilizing force in the face of global challenges.
Reuters with additional input by GVS News Desk