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Senior Chinese authorities encouraged senior Russian officials in early February not to attack Ukraine before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, according to the New York Times, citing senior Biden administration officials and a European official.
According to the storey, “Russia’s military preparations or intentions” were known to senior Chinese officials before the attack started last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, just before the Olympics’ opening ceremony.
According to The New York Times, Moscow and Beijing published a 5,000-word statement at the time declaring that their alliance had “no bounds,” criticising NATO enlargement and promising to construct a new world order based on true “democracy.”
On February 20, China hosted the Olympic Games’ closing ceremony. The next day, after state television broadcast a meeting between Putin and his national security council and a lengthy speech in which he stated that Ukraine should be a part of Russia rather than existing as a country, Putin ordered more Russian troops to enter an insurgent-controlled area of eastern Ukraine, according to the New York Times.
The Russian military launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, including ballistic missile, artillery shell, and tank attacks on Ukrainian cities.
For years, China and Russia have worked to improve their economic, political, and military ties. Before their conversations in Beijing ahead of the Olympics, Xi and Putin met 37 times as national leaders, according to The New York Times.
It went on to say that the two countries’ ambitious joint statement made during that meeting concerned American and European officials, particularly because it was the first time China had clearly sided with Russia on NATO and European security problems.
Chinese authorities have repeatedly sided with Russia as tensions between Ukraine and Russia have escalated. They have expressed sympathy for Russia’s NATO concerns and suggested that Russian and Ukrainian officials meet to discuss the issue.
According to The New York Times, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespeople have declined to characterise Russia’s activities a “invasion,” instead blaming the US for inflaming tensions in Ukraine. According to the New York Times, Chinese officials have also slammed US and European sanctions against Russia.
China is being being watched by US and European officials to determine if it will assist Russia in evading sanctions. Prior to the invasion, Beijing and Moscow announced a 30-year deal for China to purchase gas via a new pipeline.
Import restrictions on Russian wheat have also been eased by China. However, according to The New York Times, US officials expect China’s huge state-owned banks to avoid overtly breaking Russia’s sanctions for fear of harming their own worldwide economic interests.
