“INVISIBLE HAND” IS “USING THE UKRAINE CRISIS TO SERVE CERTAIN GEOPOLITICAL AGENDAS”, SAYS CHINA

Tue 07 March 2023:

The conflict in Ukraine appears to be driven by an invisible hand pushing for the protraction and escalation of the conflict, according to China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang.

While speaking at a press conference outside of the country’s annual parliamentary gathering in Beijing, Qin claimed that the “invisible hand” is “using the Ukraine crisis to serve certain geopolitical agendas.” He did not name any specific parties in his remarks.

He called for dialogue to begin as soon as possible.

“Conflict, sanctions, and pressure will not solve the problem … The process of peace talks should begin as soon as possible, and the legitimate security concerns of all parties should be respected,” Qin said.

Due to China’s growing ties to Moscow and concerns in Western capitals that it cannot be an honest broker in any potential peace talks because it has refused to name Russia as the aggressor in the conflict, China’s position on the Ukraine war has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks.

Qin stressed that Beijing had not provided weapons to either side of the Ukraine conflict, amid comments from United States officials on unspecified “consequences” for China should it send lethal aid to Russia.

“[China] is not a party to the crisis and has not provided weapons to either side of the conflict. So on what basis is this talk of blame, sanctions and threats against China? This is absolutely unacceptable.”

In a wide-ranging and lengthy encounter with reporters, Qin also spoke about the US-China relationship, saying he hoped the two countries could find the “right way to get along”.

He stressed that the self-ruled island of Taiwan was central to the conduct of ties between Beijing and Washington, describing it as “the core of the core issues, and the first red line that must not be crossed in US-China relations”.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own and hasn’t ruled out occupying the island militarily. Since Tsai Ing-wen was first elected president in 2016, when it claims she is attempting to gain independence, it has increased military and diplomatic pressure on the island. According to Tsai, Taiwan’s citizens will determine the island’s future.

By law, the US must give Taiwan the tools it needs to defend itself.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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