Africa -China Review Africa -China Cooperation and Transformation
Published: March26,2022
By Zhang Zhihao
The Ministry of National Defense spokesman Wu Qian. [Photo/mod.gov.cn]
Recent speculations by US officials about China having prior knowledge, or to having acquiesced or to having supported Russia’s military operation in Ukraine are misinformation aimed at smearing the country, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement late Thursday.
China expresses strong dissatisfaction and opposition to such rhetoric, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a ministry spokesman.
The current Ukraine issue is the result of complex historical and contemporary factors, and China believes it must be solved through dialogue and peaceful means, Wu said.
“China’s actions stand in a sharp contrast to those of the US, which has manufactured this crisis, tried to pass it on to others, and reap its benefits in the process,” he said, adding that China hopes assorted parties can play a constructive role in achieving peace and in de-escalating the situation as soon as possible.
When asked whether China would provide military aid to Russia, Wu said this is complete misinformation and has been dismissed by both China and Russia.
The US’ rumormongering against China regarding the Ukraine issue is insidious and distasteful, and has exposed the true colors of the US as an international troublemaker, he said.
“We urge the US to immediately stop its disinformation and slander, thoroughly reflect on its disgraceful role in the development of the Ukraine crisis, and take concrete actions to ease the situation,” Wu said.
China also demands the US explain why its military is involved in biological research in labs in Ukraine, Wu said, adding the US operates 336 bio labs in 30 countries, making it the world’s most active country in conducting biological military research.
According to public records, the US Department of Defense has dozens of biological laboratories in Ukraine operating under its command, he said. For the last two decades, the US has unilaterally opposed the establishment of a multilateral verification mechanism for the Biological Weapons Convention.
In the past, countries that hosted US overseas bio-labs have experienced outbreaks of rare diseases, leading to protests and questions from many nations. This is one of the key reasons why the international community is closely monitoring US biological activities in Ukraine, Wu said.
“The US owes the world an answer to these key questions, and they cannot be brushed off as disinformation,” he added.
When asked about the Ukraine issue in relation to the island of Taiwan, Wu said the Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue are fundamentally different, because the island is an inalienable part of China’s territory and thus the question is purely an internal matter, with no room for external interference in China’s affairs.
As the Ukraine crisis unfolds, the island’s pro-secession Democratic Progressive Party has intensified efforts to hype the military threat from the Chinese mainland, with the goal of inciting confrontation and justifying their separatist agenda, Wu said.
The DPP’s relentless pursuit of secession, and its collusion with external forces are the root cause of tension in the Taiwan Straits, he said, adding that these actions will “only push Taiwan into the chasm of catastrophe”.
When commenting on US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach’s remarks that China should learn lessons from the current Ukraine conflict, Wu said those who want to teach China a lesson must first learn the lesson themselves.
Wu said that China has always upheld a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. Since 1949, it has never invaded another country, engaged in proxy wars, sought spheres of influence, or joined military blocs.
In contrast, the US has instigated numerous wars globally and caused serious humanitarian disasters. “It is the biggest trouble maker in the world, and has no right to teach other countries a lesson,” Wu said.
chinadaily.com.cn
