Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he pressed his counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to oppose Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine when they met at the G20 summit in Bali on Friday.
Blinken told reporters after meeting with Wang for five hours that remaining neutral in the conflict, as China has declared, is a difficult position because there is a “clear” aggressor and victim.
“There is a clear challenge not only to the lives and livelihoods of people in Ukraine, but there is also a challenge to the international order that China and the United States as permanent members of the Security Council must uphold,” he said.
But Blinken also cast doubt on the claim that the Chinese government has remained neutral on the conflict, saying it has reinforced Russian propaganda and has continued to support Russia at the United Nations.
“But even if you take that as a premise, I don’t think China is actually engaging in a way that suggests neutrality,” he said.
China was one of 24 countries that voted against a UN resolution in April that suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council after the invasion began.
Blinken said Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Biden in a phone call last month that he stood behind the partnership he struck with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February. The two leaders reaffirmed the cordial relations between their countries when announcing the agreement.
Blinken said he urged Wang that all countries should stand up to the Russian invasion, demand that Russia allow other countries access to food supplies from Ukraine and end the war.
He did not say how Wang responded.
Biden defends trip to Saudi Arabia Five things you need to know about Shinzo Abe’s assassination
Blinken also said they discussed the state of relations between China and the United States, North Korea’s nuclear program and possible areas for increased cooperation, including on climate, global health and food security.
He said he mentioned the country’s concern about Chinese activity toward Taiwan, which has increased since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the troubles in Hong Kong. He also expressed concern about the treatment of Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim minority, in Xinjiang province.
“None of these topics are easy, but the United States has always sought to be a consistent voice on human rights and fundamental freedoms, not to antagonize China or any other country, but to help advance the peace, security and human dignity,” said Blinken.
Add Comment