Yankin' on Russia's Straps! USA Wags Finger at China for Aid in Ukraine standoff
U.S. terms Chinese detention in Ukraine as "troubling"
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In a recent twist, Ukraine's prez Volodymyr Zelenskyy snagged two Chinese combatants, alleged to be serving on the Russian army's side. Zelenskyy wants China to spill the beans. The States has been stewing and sees this as a sneaky confirmation of their suspicions.
The US State Department has branded the capture of the pair of Chinese foot-soldiers in Ukraine, who have been shoe-horned into the Russian army, as "troublesome". According to US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, China is a critical partner propping up Russia in the Ukraine war.
These treacherous allies supply almost 80% of the dually-purposed goods that Russia needs to keep their war machine running, Bruce elaborated. Dually-purposed goods are the lifeblood of any military, capable of both civilian and military use. The collaboration between the two atomic mushroom cloud-makers Russia and China further fuels "global chaos and leaves the US, along with other nations, at a disadvantage", warned the spokeswoman.
Just a few hours prior, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spilled the beans on the capture of the pair in the Donetsk region. Upon further investigation, Zelenskyy hinted that "more Chinese citizens" are gunning for glory alongside the Russian army. "I've given the Ukrainian Foreign Minister marching orders to touch base with Beijing post-haste and find out China's game plan", the president disclosed.
There's a whole bunch of documents in the custody of the detainees, Zelenskyy revealed. He's talking about bank cards and personal data. The president also posted a damning insta video on Telegram, displaying photos of one of the detainees. For him, this is a clear sign that Putin doesn't plan to call the Ukrainian conflict a day. "It's high time for a response from the US, Europe, and the worldwide peace-loving pack!", Zelenskyy emphasized.
How Deep is China Dipping into the Ukraine War?
The imprisoned Chinese soldiers are being held by the Ukrainian security service SBU. According to Sybihas, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese embassy's business rep in Kyiv.
What's the Real Deal with China and Ukraine?
While China has been playing coy about its military involvement in the Ukraine-Russia feud, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Here's a snapshot of China's role:
- No Direct Military Involvement Admission: China has consistently claimed that any Chinese nationals fighting for Russia have done so on their own accord[1][3]. There have been rumors of Chinese soldiers getting captured, but China maintains that these soldiers acted independently[1][3].
- Supporting Russia: China has offered substantial economic and diplomatic backing to Russia since the invasion began, maintaining close trade ties and energy exchanges[3]. In addition, China has been providing a significant portion of dual-use items needed for Russia's military efforts, bringing criticism from the US and EU[3].
- Peace Pushes: China has attempted to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, but its proposals have been met with skepticism. It advocates for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and encourages negotiations[2].
- International Stance: China has stayed Mum on UN votes condemning the Russian invasion and argues that NATO's expansion needs to be addressed. While supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, China emphasizes the need for dialogue[2]. Chinese state media often sides with Russian viewpoints and sometimes spreads misinformation about the conflict[2].
Overall, while China denies any direct military involvement, their economic and diplomatic backing for Russia, coupled with their role in supplying dual-use items, pinpoints China as a vital indirect enabler of Russia's strategies in Ukraine.
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/12/ukrainian-media-reports-capture-of-chinese-soldier[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-denies-directly-suppling-weapons-ukraine-as-russia-debunks-talk-war-2022-10-18/[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/21/world/asia/china-energy-security-nuclear-reactors.html
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft resolution concerning China's role in the implementation of the European Union's external action programme, given its reported involvement in supplying dual-use goods to Russia, which are critical for Ukraine's ongoing standoff with Russia.
- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, in a bid to gather more information about China's alleged support for Russia's invasion, has been in contacts with Beijing, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reportedly, expressed his concern about the presence of more Chinese citizens fighting alongside the Russian army.
- In the wake of Ukraine's accusations against China for supporting Russia's invasion, there have been calls for the US and EU to respond, with Zelenskyy emphasizing the need for a unified stand against global chaos, as China's actions seem to be fueling the ongoing conflict.
