China's Foreign Minister Signals Deeper Ties With Russia

• Published date: 25 December 2022
• Publication title: ASEAN Tribune

25 December 2022 (Voice of America) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi defended his country's position on the war in Ukraine on Sunday and signaled that China would deepen ties with Russia in the coming year.

Wang, speaking by video to a conference in the Chinese capital, also blamed America for the deterioration in relations between the world's two largest economies, saying that China has 'firmly rejected the United States' erroneous China policy.'

China has pushed back against Western pressure on trade, technology, human rights and its claims to a broad swath of the western Pacific, accusing the U.S. of bullying. Its refusal to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and join others in imposing sanctions on Russia has further frayed ties and fueled an emerging divide with much of Europe.

Wang said that China would 'deepen strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation' with Russia. Warships from the two countries held joint naval drills in the East China Sea last week.

'With regard to the Ukraine crisis, we have consistently upheld the fundamental principles of objectivity and impartiality, without favoring one side or the other, or adding fuel to the fire, still less seeking selfish gains from the situation,' Wang said, according to an official text of his remarks.

Even as China has...