Fear of spillover – War in Ukraine: China calls for de-escalation

“Under the circumstances, all parties should behave calmly, exercise restraint and cooperate through dialogue and consultation to avoid tensions and strategic risks,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

China wants to play a “constructive role”.
China will continue to play a “constructive role” in the war in Ukraine, Lin said. The People’s Republic continues to call on all parties to “de-escalate the situation and commit to a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine. “A ceasefire as soon as possible and pursuing a political solution to the conflict are in the interests of all parties,” he added. The day before, President Xi Jinping had warned on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro that the war would not spread to other regions.

China claims to take a neutral position in the conflict in Ukraine. However, close relations exist between Moscow and Beijing, which have attracted criticism in the West. China is accused, among other things, of supplying Moscow with so-called dual-use goods that could be used in wars.

Attack with ATACMS missiles, relaxation of nuclear doctrine
Ukraine attacked Russia for the first time on Tuesday with long-range missiles from the United States. The US had allowed Ukraine to use these ATACMS missiles after the government in Kiev urged its main partner to do so for months due to the Russian military’s advance in the country and increased airstrikes. Moscow responded with sharp criticism of Washington’s decision.

Also on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing his country to use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state if it is backed by nuclear powers. The new doctrine also allows for a nuclear response to ‘massive’ air attacks, even if only conventional weapons are used.