China denies allegations of soldiers in Ukraine

 China has dismissed allegations that its citizens are fighting for Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Beijing has called the claims “groundless” following statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese nationals who were allegedly fighting for Russia.

The Ukrainian government further escalated the matter by summoning China’s charge d’affaires to discuss the issue.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha raised concerns over the involvement of Chinese nationals in the conflict, which has drawn significant international attention. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, urging China to provide clarity on the matter.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that China’s stance on the war remains neutral.

Lin emphasized that Beijing has consistently advised its nationals to stay away from regions of armed conflict and not to engage in any form of military operations. He stressed that the Chinese government does not condone its citizens participating in combat.

“We call on the relevant parties to be prudent and measured in their statements, rather than making irresponsible remarks,” Lin said during a regular briefing. He further reiterated that China is neither an initiator nor a supporter of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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Beijing has long called for a peaceful resolution to the war and has positioned itself as a proponent of political dialogue.

The controversy emerged after Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals who reportedly fought alongside Russian troops. In a recently released video, one of the detainees, Zhang Renbo, claimed it was his first deployment, stating that he had never held a weapon before.

The other detainee, Wang Guangjun, alleged that after surrendering, Russian forces dropped an explosive gas, which resulted in their injuries.

This footage has intensified the debate over the involvement of Chinese nationals in the war. Ukrainian intelligence sources suggest that these individuals were linked to Russian military units, which raises questions about China’s role in the conflict.

Some international observers have called for China to clarify its position and take steps to prevent its citizens from engaging in foreign conflicts.

Despite these developments, Beijing maintains that it is not involved in any military operations in Ukraine. The Chinese government has repeatedly stated that it supports a peaceful settlement to the conflict, calling for dialogue and negotiation between the warring parties.

It has urged both Russia and Ukraine to seek a political resolution rather than continuing military confrontations.

NAN