China’s ambassador tries to cast ‘no limits’ with Russia as a ‘misunderstanding’

The ambassador, who arrived in Washington a yr in the past, mentioned China shouldn’t be enthusiastic about “confrontation,” including that each Russia and China share a standard rejection of the “Chilly Battle mentality.” Qin refused to name Russia’s conflict on Ukraine an invasion, as an alternative referring to it as a “disaster.”

The feedback come as China continues its tightrope stroll relating to Russia’s assault in Ukraine — refusing to sentence Moscow whereas sustaining commerce with its neighbor — including an extra layer to the already tense U.S.-Chinese language relations. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi that his nation’s assist for Russia was complicating China’s relationship with america.

Simply as Wang did with Blinken, Qin positioned the blame for the troubled relationship squarely on the toes of the U.S., portraying China as the nice actor amid the tensions.

Qin’s solutions have been overwhelmingly a retread of acquainted Chinese language international ministry cliches, together with criticism of the U.S. for a “Chilly Battle mentality” and dismissals of U.S. concern about threats to democracy and human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong as “lies” and “malicious assaults.”

Phelim Kine contributed to this report.