China and The Wars in Ukraine and Israel

[Randy W]

China has been all over the map over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, from Xi and Putin's declaration of a friendship with "No limits", to declaring talk of a pending invasion "US’ warmongering in Ukraine is only for wartime profiteering" (see in CFL topic SerpentZA and Other Vloggers - GT Voice: US’ warmongering in Ukraine is only for wartime profiteering and to a warning to Taiwan "The West has abandoned us" narrative on CGTN concerning Ukraine (in CFL Topic China Angers Taiwan - Taiwan Angers China).

But they ARE having a problem with the invasion of a sovereign country and "Russian troops bombarding civilians as they were preparing to evacuate"

An ongoing topic - click here for Most Recent Post

Thousands of people in the city of Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine are attempting to evacuate as it comes under fire from Russian mortars. An explosion on Sunday killed eight people, local officials said.  

Mayor Alexandar Markushin said Russian troops bombarded the town’s residents as they were preparing to evacuate. 

“The shell hit, and in front of my own eyes died two small children and two adults,” he said in a video released Sunday. “I want to emphasize these were peaceful residents.” #CGTNAmerica

from CGTN on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaGlobalTVNetwork/posts/537237437769733

 

 

Edited February 21, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

On 3/8/2022 at 7:11 PM, Randy W said:

China has been all over the map over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, from Xi and Putin's declaration of a friendship with "No limits", to declaring talk of a pending invasion "US’ warmongering in Ukraine is only for wartime profiteering" (see in CFL topic SerpentZA and Other Vloggers - GT Voice: US’ warmongering in Ukraine is only for wartime profiteering and to a warning to Taiwan "The West has abandoned us" narrative on CGTN concerning Ukraine (in CFL Topic China Angers Taiwan - Taiwan Angers China).

But they ARE having a problem with the invasion of a sovereign country and "Russian troops bombarding civilians as they were preparing to evacuate"

 

Thousands of people in the city of Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine are attempting to evacuate as it comes under fire from Russian mortars. An explosion on Sunday killed eight people, local officials said.  

Mayor Alexandar Markushin said Russian troops bombarded the town’s residents as they were preparing to evacuate. 

“The shell hit, and in front of my own eyes died two small children and two adults,” he said in a video released Sunday. “I want to emphasize these were peaceful residents.” #CGTNAmerica

from CGTN on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaGlobalTVNetwork/posts/537237437769733

China’s delicate position on Russia-Ukraine crisis and its opposition to Western sanctions

The United States and its allies have been leveraging their economic power to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine, making Russia the world’s most-sanctioned nation. Yet China has said that its ties with Russia remain “rock solid” and that it intends to continue normal trade with Moscow.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/755688298726048/

 . . . and YouTube (same video)

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

China is tap dancing all over the tightrope they're walking with regard to the Ukraine situation. They're doing everything they can to NOT appear to be supportive of the invasion of Ukraine, while doing everything they can to blame the U.S. and NATO, while reserving their right to invade their own "sovereign territory".

from CGTN

Chinese Ambassador to U.S.: Claims of foreknowledge are disinformation

Quote

 

"Assertions that China knew about, acquiesced to or tacitly supported this war are pure disinformation. All these claims serve only the purpose of shifting blame to and slinging mud at China," he said in an op-ed entitled "Where We Stand in Ukraine" in The Washington Post. 

He underscored the fact that there were more than 6,000 Chinese citizens in Ukraine before the conflict and that China is the biggest trading partner of both Russia and Ukraine and the largest importer of crude oil and natural gas in the world. 

"Conflict between Russia and Ukraine does no good for China," he said. "Had China known about the imminent crisis, we would have tried our best to prevent it." 

The ambassador reiterated China's position on the Ukraine issue: "The purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed; the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine, must be respected; the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously; and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported." 

He warned Washington against threatening to impose sanctions against Chinese companies on the one hand and seeking China's support and cooperation on the other. 

Qin called it a "mistake" to link Ukraine with China's Taiwan region to play up the risks of a conflict in the Taiwan Straits. 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/ChinaGlobalTVNetwork/posts/543948350431975

 

Where does China stand in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine? Read China's Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang’s...

Posted by CGTN on Tuesday, March 15, 2022

 

in the Washington Post:

Opinion: Chinese ambassador: Where we stand on Ukraine

By Qin Gang
Today at 3:11 p.m. EDT

Quote

As a Chinese proverb goes, it takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice. The long-term peace and stability of Europe relies on the principle of indivisible security. There must be a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. The priority now is to achieve a cease-fire to protect civilians from war. But as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a responsible major country, China will continue to coordinate real efforts to achieve lasting peace. We stand ready to do whatever we can and work with other parties. Our ultimate purpose is the end of war and support regional and global stability.

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 . . . and from the AP. "News" about the biolabs is all over CGTN

China amplifies unsupported Russian claim of Ukraine biolabs

Quote

 

The partnership between the two authoritarian countries, which weeks ago said their ties had “no limits,” appears aimed at muddying the waters of the rationale for Russia’s invasion in what American officials have called an “information war” that some fear could lay the groundwork for a “false-flag” operation.

China’s Foreign Ministry has helped fuel the fire this week, repeating the Russian claim several times and calling for an investigation.

“This Russian military operation has uncovered the secret of the U.S. labs in Ukraine, and this is not something that can be dealt with in a perfunctory manner,” ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Thursday.

“It is not something they can muddle through by saying that China’s statement and Russia’s finding are disinformation, and are absurd and ridiculous.”

Indeed, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby called the Russian claim “a bunch of malarkey,” but in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, CIA Director William Burns also noted grave concern that Russia might be laying the groundwork for a chemical or biological attack of its own, which it would then blame on the U.S. or Ukraine in a false flag operation.

“This is something, as all of you know very well, is very much a part of Russia’s playbook,” he said. “They’ve used these weapons against their own citizens, they’ve at least encouraged the use in Syria and elsewhere, so it’s something we take very seriously.”

 

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Meanwhile, Western businesses are finding it more and more difficult to do business in China. Maybe they need to rediscover ping pong diplomacy. The article doesn't address what will happen if China keeps shutting down.

#Opinion: Lessons from Ukraine crisis: If China keeps opening up, it will not need to use the threat of nuclear weapons to defend its interests like Russia, as China's economy, deeply embedded in West, will make the West feel real pain: Zheng Yongnian
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1255162.shtml

from the Global Times on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/globaltimesnews/posts/5088113864602806

 

#Opinion: Lessons from Ukraine crisis: If China keeps opening up, it will not need to use the threat of nuclear weapons...

Posted by Global Times on Thursday, March 17, 2022

 

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

As the NEED for NATO is currently being demonstrated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Global Times has this to say -

#Opinion: The cause of NATO’s death has yet to be confirmed, but it is likely to be complications caused as a result of irrelevancy and misuse. It is a mere tool for delivering not peace, or stability, but American foreign policy.

The author is a journalist and lecturer living in Britain. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

from the Global Times
 https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202204/1257494.shtml

https://www.facebook.com/globaltimesnews/posts/5135208793226646

The death of NATO - an obituary

By Mark Blacklock
Published: Apr 04, 2022 12:46 PM

It started out in life with much optimism as a “defensive alliance,” but during its formative years it became increasingly clear that the war that it kept telling people was such a threat was never actually going to happen. The Cold War never became a “hot” war and, lacking a true purpose, NATO’s mental health began to suffer – it became plagued by chronic anxiety and paranoia, seemingly unable to understand why the catastrophes it predicted never took place. It must have been such a disappointment to the parents, though they continued to indulge their spoiled child’s fantasies.

Tragically, as it grew older, NATO appeared to suffer a kind of mid-life crisis and tried to reinvent itself as some sort of global policeman, declaring in a new mission statement that it intended to find new work in crisis management. However, one particular venture in that field, originally planned as a short family holiday to Afghanistan, ended up lasting 20 years. And when NATO eventually went home, it left behind a far greater crisis than had existed before its involvement. There were also family squabbles: war in Syria was cause for further concern for NATO’s wellbeing when one member, Turkey, became a “threat” to European security because of a crisis created by another, the United States.

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Ukraine war: Beijing assures Kyiv that China supports peace talks

• Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba for a second time since the Russian invasion
• The call, which includes Beijing’s thanks for keeping Chinese civilians safe, comes as international outrage grows over possible Russian war crimes in Bucha

from the SCMP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (centre) visiting Bucha on Monday, where mass killings of civilians occurred during the occupation by Russian troops. Photo: President Of Ukraine/ZUMA Press Wire Service/dpa

According to a Chinese readout of the call, Wang said that Ukraine has “enough wisdom to make its own choices” regarding the conflict, without elaborating what that meant.

Wang also reiterated Beijing’s gratitude to Ukraine for keeping Chinese civilians safe, and expressed hopes for Ukraine’s development, European peace and cooperation between China and the European Union.

 

 

[Randy W]

'No limits' in China-Russia cooperation

Following a meeting in which Ukraine was discussed, Chinese and Russian foreign ministers vowed there were "no limits" to their countries' relations.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/665266901392092/

[Randy W]

EU pressures China over its stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine
EU and Chinese leaders hold a virtual summit, with Brussels seeking assurances that Beijing will not support Russia.

from AL Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/eu-pressures-china-over-its-stance-on-russias-war-in-ukraine

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speak via video conference [Olivier Matthys/Pool/AP]

Quote

 

European Union and Chinese leaders have met for their first summit in two years with Brussels pressing Beijing for assurances that it will neither supply Russia with arms nor help Moscow circumvent Western sanctions imposed over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In uncommonly open language, EU officials close to Friday’s summit preparations said any help given to Russia would damage China’s international reputation and jeopardise relations with its biggest trade partners – Europe and the United States.

 

 

[Randy W]

The view from NATO, including NATO expansion - and Lithuania, another former Soviet republic

Has the war in Ukraine given NATO new purpose? | Start Here
The war in Ukraine seems to have galvanised the NATO alliance, with a renewed focus on its eastern flank. #AJStartHere goes to Lithuania to explain.

from Al Jazeera English on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera/videos/746990333332393/

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Russia’s struggle to defeat Ukraine ‘a warning’ for China over risks of going to war

• The West’s response to the attack and support for Kyiv shows the risks for China if it faces a united front during any conflictMilitary analysts say the Russian military’s setbacks show China should not take the decision to wage war lightly

from the SCMP 

 

Quote

 

The US, Britain and other Nato countries have been sharing vital intelligence information, including satellite images and communications intercepts, with Kyiv.

Earlier this week, an unofficial Ukrainian military Twitter account posted a cache of uncensored satellite images from Google Maps showing Russian military bases and said Google had “opened access to Russia’s military and strategic facilities” – a claim the tech giant denied.

This prolonged conflict is a warning for Beijing that if the West unites in opposition to a conflict it could offset the perceived military advantage of any country, according to observers.

 . . .

“The biggest lesson for Beijing is, we shall never [decide to] wage war lightly.”

 

 

 

 

[Randy W]

A very interesting history of the Donbas region since the Soviet breakup - it has helped my understanding of what has happened there, and what is going on now.

 

How Ukraine’s Donbas has ‘evolved’ under pro-Russia separatists
The ‘Soviet workers’ paradise’ transformed several times before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 

At a pro-Russian rally in Donetsk in 2014, a flag with Josef Stalin's portrait is raised [Mansur Mirovalev/Al Jazeera]

 

from Al Jazeera

Quote

 

Val remembered the good old days, when Donbas was hailed as a “Soviet workers’ paradise”, and its blue-collar residents, especially coal miners and steelworkers, enjoyed hefty salaries and plenty of perks.

 

They had free healthcare, education and dirt-cheap vacations to Crimea or even the “socialist camp,” or Moscow-friendly nations of Eastern Europe – Bulgaria or Poland.

 

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Donbas from all over the USSR – and mostly switched to Russian.

 

 

According to Wikipedia about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014 -

Quote

The responsibility for investigation was delegated to the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) and the Dutch-led joint investigation team (JIT), who concluded that the airliner was downed by a Buk surface-to-air missile launched from pro-Russian separatist-controlled territory in Ukraine.[3][7] According to the JIT, the Buk that was used originated from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Federation[8][9] and had been transported from Russia on the day of the crash, fired from a field in a rebel-controlled area and the launch system returned to Russia afterwards.

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

How Ukraine war 'unsettles' China - CIA chief
Watch our interview with the director of the CIA, William Burns, in which he told us how China's president Xi Jinping has been 'unsettled' by the war in Ukraine 

from the Financial Times on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/financialtimes/videos/369726305185336/

 

Edited May 15, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Petro Poroshenko, former President of Ukraine, was interviewed on CGTN. They embarrassed themselves trying to get him to criticize NATO. He says that a condition for a cease fire is the withdrawal of Russian forces.

Poroshenko was the previous President who had been installed by Russia. China has claimed that he was deposed by Zelensky in a "non-democratic" election. Poroshenko showed full support for Zelensky.

They are now showing an interview with a former spokesman for Putin, who says they will crush the Ukrainian army,

Very awkward for China.

From France 24 -

'Don't trust Putin,' says Ukraine's ex-president Poroshenko after Azovstal evacuation

Edited May 25, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Breaking | Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin speak in person for first time since Russia invaded Ukraine

• The two leaders meet on the sidelines of the Beijing-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan
• Topics for discussion include the war in Ukraine and issues involving Taiwan, according to the Kremlin

from the SCMP

Quote

 

China’s top legislator and No 3 official, Li Zhanshu, raised eyebrows during his trip to Russia last week when he said that China fully supported Russia on issues of the country’s “core interest”.

“On Russia’s core issues or issues of great interest, China expresses full understanding and full support,” he told Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin in a video clip released by the parliamentary chamber.

“Just like the Ukraine issue now, the United States and Nato had pushed straight to Russia’s doorsteps. This involves Russia’s national security and the safety of its people’s lives. In light of this, China understands that Russia needed to do what is appropriate and is giving coordinated support on multiple fronts,” Li said.

He also said that Russia had been “forced to a corner” and was staging a “counter-attack” to protect core national interests, statements that were not published in a report by Xinhua, China’s state news agency, about Li’s visit.