China Must ‘Clearly Condemn' Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, NATO Chief Says

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference ahead of the alliance's defense ministers' meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on March 15, 2022. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called on China to condemn Russia over what he called Moscow’s “brutal invasion” of Ukraine.

“China should join the rest of the world condemning strongly the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” Stoltenberg said during a press briefing on March 15. “China has an obligation as a member of the U.N. Security Council to actually support and uphold international law.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, so we call on [China] to clearly condemn the invasion and, of course, not support Russia.”

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine on Feb. 24, dozens of countries have publicly condemned the aggression. The communist regime in Beijing has refused to call the Russian attack an invasion and has provided tacit support to its biggest ally, most notably by abstaining twice in U.N. votes regarding the invasion.

Officially, China has positioned itself as neutral in the war, saying that it respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, but also recognizing what the regime describes as the “legitimate security concerns” of Russia.

China has “actively promoted” on the internet Moscow’s justifications for war, while advancing “anti-U.S. and anti-NATO narratives,” according to a recent report by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. For example, China promoted the claims about neo-Nazi influences in Ukraine, a justification for Moscow’s invasion, as well as Russia’s claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was hiding at the U.S. Embassy in Poland.

Stoltenberg was asked whether NATO has seen evidence that China was providing Russia with military help or other assistance. In response, the NATO boss said the alliance is “closely monitoring any signs of support” from the Chinese regime to its northern neighbor.

Recently, several media reports, citing unnamed U.S. officials, have stated that Russia had requested military assistance and financial aid for its war from Russia, and Beijing had signaled a willingness to comply. China and Russia have denied the allegations.

“Any support to Russia, military support or any other type of support, would actually help Russia conduct a brutal war against an independent sovereign nation, Ukraine, and help them to continue to wage war, which is causing death, suffering, and an enormous amount of destruction,” Stoltenberg said.

Russia and China now boast a “no-limits” partnership after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Feb. 4. According to a lengthy statement released following their meeting, there would be “no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation” between the two sides.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan held seven hours of “intense” talks with Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome on March 14. Following their meeting, a senior administration official said Washington had “deep concerns” about the Sino–Russian alliance, while White House press secretary Jen Psaki said China would face “significant consequences” if it aids Russia with its war on Ukraine.

Also on March 15, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), in an interview with “Fox and Friends,” said the Biden administration should adopt a different approach toward China.

“The Biden administration needs to stop playing footsie with the Chinese right now, because they’re trying to portray themselves as peacemakers. But behind the scenes, they’re standing by their man in Moscow,” he said. “And the harder this gets for Putin, the more dependent he’s going to become on China, both as a destination for weapons supplies, as well as energy sales.

“We need to call out the role that the Chinese are playing here. This alliance among authoritarian states is a feature of the new Cold War that China has launched against America. The sooner we recognize that, the sooner we can win the new Cold War.”