Although it has tried to maintain a neutral stance over Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, China is clearly veering off to the wrong side of history.
Over the weekend, a senior Chinese government official said that sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia over Ukraine are increasingly “outrageous.”
Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng also acknowledged Moscow’s point of view on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying the alliance should not further expand eastwards, forcing a nuclear power like Russia “into a corner.”
“The sanctions against Russia are getting more and more outrageous,” Le said at a security forum in Beijing, adding that Russian citizens were being deprived of overseas assets “for no reason.”
We beg to differ.
What we find truly outrageous is that Beijing has yet to condemn Russia’s invasion of a sovereign state for the purpose of replacing its democratically elected government. What is even more appalling is that Chinese leaders have yet to denounce Russia’s rocket and artillery attacks of hospitals, schools and apartment buildings, which have resulted in the death of more than 800 civilians—including 100 children. While the rest of the world watched in horror as Russian soldiers fired on civilians trying to flee the besieged city of Mariupol, Chinese officials were mouthing the same lies that the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin used to justify his bloody war to his own people.
In his remarks, Le said the sanctions would not work.
“History has proven time and again that sanctions cannot solve problems. Sanctions will only harm ordinary people, impact the economic and financial system… and worsen the global economy.”
The vice foreign minister, it seems, needs a history lesson, particularly on how economic sanctions played a significant role in ending apartheid in South Africa in the 1990s.
Le’s remarks that the sanctions against Russia are unilateral and not authorized by the UN Security Council are laughable. Of course the sanctions were not authorized by the UN Security Council, where Russia and China have permanent seats and where they can exercise veto power. Again, the vice foreign minister needs to be reminded that 141 countries in the UN General Assembly voted to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and that only five voted against the resolution—North Korea, Eritrea, Syria, Russia and Russia’s puppet state, Belarus.
China and 34 other states abstained.
In Russia, it is a crime to use the words “war” and “invasion.” The despot Putin insists it is merely a “special operation.”
China, whose President Xi Jinping described Putin as his “best friend,” has consistently parroted Moscow’s line. Given their authoritarian bent, this is no surprise. On the other hand, we who are free to read and watch the news, unfiltered and uncensored, recognize Russia’s war in Ukraine for what it is—a crime against humanity. Anyone who does not see this is on the wrong side of history.
