Beijing has firmly rejected calls by former US President Donald Trump for European nations to increase economic pressure on China over its stance on the Ukraine war.
On Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly opposes” attempts to drag Beijing into the conflict or impose sanctions against it.
Trump, addressing European leaders via video conference during a summit in Paris on Thursday, urged them to pressure Beijing to cut ties with Moscow and to stop importing Russian oil, which he argued continues to fuel the war.
A senior White House official told AFP that Trump insisted Europe must “stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war” and push back on China’s deepening partnership with Russia.
China, however, defended its position, maintaining that it is not a party to the conflict. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stressed that Beijing has neither created the crisis nor taken sides.
“We firmly oppose the practice of constantly dragging China into the matter, and we strongly oppose the imposition of so-called economic pressure on China,” Guo told reporters in Beijing.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China has walked a delicate line. While it has avoided openly providing weapons to Moscow, Beijing has refrained from condemning the war and continues to call itself a neutral party.
Instead, it regularly urges negotiations and accuses Western nations of prolonging the conflict by arming Kyiv.
Observers note that Beijing and Moscow’s relationship has only grown closer over the past three years. In February 2022, shortly before the invasion, the two countries declared a “no limits partnership.” Since then, bilateral trade has soared, with China emerging as a critical buyer of Russian energy.
ALSO READ: Taiwan reaffirms peace as China displays military might
On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping stood alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a massive military parade commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II. The event drew sharp criticism from Western diplomats, including the EU’s top foreign policy chief.
Beijing has defended its participation in such events, insisting that its outreach to “foreign guests” reflects a desire to promote peace and historical remembrance.
Yet, when pressed by journalists on Friday to state clearly whether it considers Russia a “peace-loving country,” spokesman Guo Jiakun declined to give a direct yes-or-no answer, underscoring Beijing’s careful diplomatic balancing act.
For Western capitals, Trump’s remarks highlight continued concerns about China’s role in sustaining Russia’s war effort.
Many European leaders remain wary of Beijing’s stance, particularly its economic lifeline to Moscow, but are cautious about escalating tensions with China at a time of fragile global economic recovery.
As the war drags on, China’s position is increasingly scrutinized, with Washington and its allies viewing Beijing as a silent enabler of Russia’s military campaign.
However, Beijing insists that pushing sanctions or economic coercion against it will only complicate efforts to achieve peace.
For now, China continues to call for dialogue while deepening its political and economic alignment with Moscow—a stance that leaves both Washington and European allies frustrated as the Ukraine conflict shows no sign of ending soon.
Punch Newspaper
