China’s Views on the Origin and Resolution of Ukraine Crisis

March 17, 2022 (EIRNS)—Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian had multiple opportunities to respond to questions about China’s views on the Ukraine situation during the March 17 press conference of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When asked to comment on claims attributed by Bloomberg to the former chief of Britain’s intelligence service “that only Xi Jinping can influence Putin and stop the war in Ukraine,” Zhao responded: “It takes the one who started the issue to resolve it. I want to stress that those who caused the Ukraine crisis should reflect on the roles they have played ... instead of shifting the blame to others.”

He elaborated in a later exchange with British news agency Reuters

: “International media lately mentioned many times that George Kennan, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, suggested to the U.S. government in the 1990s that expanding NATO up to Russia’s borders would be the most fateful error of American policy.... The U.S. decision on NATO’s Eastward expansion is directly linked to the Ukraine crisis now. I read a report the other day that Tulsi Gabbard, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, said the crisis could have been ended and the war easily avoided if the U.S. had simply promised not to accept Ukraine’s becoming a member of NATO. But they chose not to do so.... The key to solving the Ukraine crisis is in the hands of the U.S. and NATO.”

In a previous exchange with Reuters, Zhao remarked: “I have a few questions for you to ponder. The U.S. claimed to defend peace by working on NATO’s five waves of Eastward expansion. Is peace achieved? It said this was to prevent war in Europe. Is war averted? It advertised its commitment to a peaceful settlement of the crisis. But from providing military aid to beefing up military deterrence, did it do anything good for peace?

“China always independently decides its position and policies based on the merit of the matter itself. We welcome all diplomatic efforts conducive to the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and support Russia and Ukraine in conducting dialogue and negotiation to seek a political settlement that accommodates both sides’ legitimate concerns and is good for lasting stability and security in Europe. China will continue to play a constructive role in seeking and achieving peace and development.”