Putin Escalation Leaves China’s Xi With Tough Balancing Act
- Beijing looks to avoid setting precedent that could backfire
- ‘China will have to walk a fine line in this crisis’
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While most diplomats at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting condemned Vladimir Putin’s government for escalating tensions with Ukraine, China’s envoy carefully avoided any mention of Russia.
“All parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions,” Ambassador Zhang Jun said late Monday as part of a six-sentence statement. “The current situation in Ukraine is a result of many complex factors,” he added. “China always makes its own position, according to the merits of the matter itself.”