Beijing:

China vowed on Wednesday not to accept “criticism or pressure” on its relationship with Russia after Washington warned it would hold Beijing accountable if Moscow made advances in Ukraine.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said on Tuesday that Washington “will not sit back and say everything is fine” after Beijing reiterated its commitment to cooperation with Moscow during a visit by Russia’s top diplomat.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisted that “China and Russia have the right to carry out normal economic and trade cooperation.”

“This cooperation should not be disrupted or restricted, and China will not accept criticism or pressure,” she added on Wednesday.

The two countries have intensified contacts in recent years, and their strategic partnership has become even closer since Moscow’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Analysts say China has the upper hand in relations with Russia, and as the war drags on, Moscow’s international isolation has deepened and China’s influence has grown.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with President Xi Jinping and top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday, with the two saying they would strengthen strategic cooperation.

Xi Jinping told Lavrov that China “attached great importance” to its relations with Moscow and was “willing to strengthen bilateral communication and strengthen multilateral strategic coordination with Russia,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The statement said that President Xi Jinping and President Putin agreed to maintain “close exchanges” to ensure the stable development of bilateral relations.

– Ongoing support –

Although China claims to be a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, it has been criticized for refusing to condemn Moscow’s offensive and for indirectly supporting the war effort by continuing trade with Russia.

U.S. officials have recently stepped up efforts to warn Beijing against providing indirect aid to Russia’s war effort.

In Brussels last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that “China continues to provide supplies to support Russia’s defense industrial base.”

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who concluded a trip to China on Monday, said she had warned officials of the consequences of supporting Russian military purchases.

Campbell reiterated on Tuesday that “we have told China directly that if this situation continues, it will have an impact on the U.S.-China relationship.”

“We will not view this as just a series of activities unique to Russia, but as a series of joint activities supported by China and North Korea,” he told the National Council on U.S.-China Relations, an educational group.

“This goes against our interests,” he warned.

Beijing responded on Wednesday by saying it had “always played a constructive role” in seeking a solution to the war in Ukraine.

Mao Zedong said: “If any country truly cares about peace in Ukraine and hopes that the crisis will end soon, it should first reflect on the root causes of the crisis.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)