According to the Italian government, Chinese head of state Xi Jinping is planning a “peace speech” on the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army. The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, announced this to Italian media on Friday after a meeting with Wang Yi, China’s top foreign policy maker.
“He announced to me that Xi Jinping wants to give a peace speech on the anniversary of the outbreak of war,” Tajani told Rai. Wang Yi also “underlined several times that China wants peace,” he added. The Italian minister also stressed that he had repeatedly pushed for Chinese influence over the Russian leadership when meeting with his Chinese counterpart. So far, there has been no confirmation from Beijing of a planned speech by the president.
Beijing: “Our position is constant and clear”
In a succinct comment, China’s foreign ministry said that “our position on the situation in Ukraine is constant and clear”. Although Beijing always tries to position itself as neutral in the conflict between the two neighboring countries, it has benefited heavily from increased gas and oil exports to China. The invasion of Russia has also not been condemned in any way. In addition, the US government wants “proof” that state-owned companies are supplying the Russian military with necessary “non-lethal” equipment. This is strongly denied in Beijing.
Chinese military exercises with Russia and South Africa
However, a joint exercise with Russia and South Africa off the South African coast cannot be denied. These ten-day naval maneuvers through the three states began on Friday. The timing of the exercise dubbed “Mosi II” (smoke) in the context of the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine (February 24) already caused criticism in advance.
Kobus Marais of the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said that with the joint military exercises with Russia, South Africa is relinquishing its neutral stance on the war in Ukraine. He called the ruling African National Congress’s decision to hold the maneuvers “irresponsible” at this time. There was also international criticism of the exercise beforehand. During his visit to South Africa at the end of January, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed that every country has the right “to shape its foreign policy in accordance with its own interests”. However, the coincidence of the anniversary of the attack on Ukraine with the military exercises is not something “we would have wished for”.
According to the TASS news agency, the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the tanker Kama will participate. According to Russian sources, the frigate is armed with hypersonic cruise missiles that will be tested during the maneuvers. China is taking part with a destroyer, a frigate and a supply ship, while South Africa is providing another frigate. The maneuvers will be conducted between Durban and Richards Bay on the east coast of South Africa.
Source: Krone
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