Wang Yi Opposes Sanctions on Russia... Will Mediate if Necessary

Director Wang: "The Taiwan Issue and the Ukraine Issue Are Fundamentally Different and Not Comparable"
Warning Advice to Japan on the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations... Korea Is a Partner with Great Potential

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister in charge of diplomacy, stated that China will "continuously promote the strategic cooperative partnership" with Russia.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At a press conference held on the 7th in Beijing during the National People's Congress (NPC) meeting, Wang clearly expressed opposition to the sanctions imposed on Russia by the Western camp, including the United States and the European Union (EU).

Wang said, "China and Russia are permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, each other's most important neighboring countries and strategic partners," adding, "The China-Russia relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world, and our cooperation not only brings benefits and welfare to the peoples of both countries but also contributes to world peace and stability."

He continued, "The development of China-Russia relations has a clear historical rationale, strong driving forces, and the friendship between our peoples is as solid as bedrock, with very broad prospects for cooperation," reaffirming his opposition to the Western camp's economic and financial sanctions against Russia. Wang stated, "What is needed to resolve complex issues is calmness and rationality, not fanning the flames of a burning house and escalating conflicts," and emphasized, "Disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and negotiation."

He also said, "The more urgent the situation, the more peace talks cannot be stopped; the greater the differences, the more negotiations must be held," adding, "China intends to play a constructive role through recommendations and appeals and, if necessary, mediate with the international community."

Furthermore, he argued for the prevention of politicization of humanitarian issues, proper placement of Ukrainian refugees, ensuring the safety of relief activities, and securing the safety of foreigners within Ukraine.

Wang also addressed the Taiwan issue. He made it clear that the Taiwan issue and the Ukraine issue are fundamentally different and cannot be compared. Wang emphasized, "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Taiwan issue is entirely China's internal affair." He then defined the Ukraine situation as a conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Regarding the root cause of tensions in the Taiwan Strait, he said, "It arises because the ruling authorities in Taiwan do not agree with the 'One China' principle," warning that if the United States continues to push Taiwan into a dangerous situation, it will lead to serious consequences.

Wang expressed confidence that attempts to achieve independence by relying on foreign countries and to suppress China using Taiwan will fail, and ultimately, Taiwan will return to the embrace of the motherland.

Wang also spoke about China-South Korea relations. He said, "China and South Korea are friendly neighbors with historically deep ties," evaluating that the two countries have endured various tests of change over the past 30 years and achieved comprehensive and rapid development. He emphasized, "China and South Korea are not rivals but complementary partners with enormous potential," adding that on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, they intend to inherit the tradition of friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and seize the opportunity to achieve common development.

Regarding Japan, which is approaching the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Wang said, "The current China-Japan relationship has some differences," offering a cautionary note. He pointed out the need to ▲faithfully adhere to the principles and spirit of the four major China-Japan documents ▲honor commitments on sensitive issues such as Taiwan ▲contribute to regional peace and stability rather than past history such as hegemony, geopolitical confrontation, and the Cold War.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.