China criticises military aid provided to Ukraine by US
(21 Feb 2023) RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Beijing - 21 February 2023 1. Wide of news conference 2. Wide of journalists 3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson: “The US is the largest supplier of weapons to the battlefield in Ukraine. Yesterday, the U.S. just announced another $500 million in military aid to Ukraine. It makes people wonder what the U.S. is up to by falsely claiming that China is offering weapons. The U.S. claims to maintain peace, but actually it is making money from the crisis.” 4. Journalists 5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson: “There are enough facts to show the true nature of the U.S. as a source of trouble rather than a defender of peace for the world. China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership is based on non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties, which is within the sovereignty of two independent countries. We don’t accept the U.S. finger-pointing or even coercion targeting China-Russia relations.” 6. Journalists 7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson: “We will take the visit as an opportunity to work with Russia to jointly promote steady progress of bilateral relations in the direction determined by the two leaders, safeguard each other’s legitimate rights and interests, and contribute positively to world peace.” 8. Wide of news conference STORYLINE: China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday criticized military aid provided to Ukraine by the U.S. and its allies, saying that “the U.S. claims to maintain peace, but actually it is making money from the crisis." “There are enough facts to show the true nature of the U.S. as a source of trouble rather than a defender of peace for the world," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily news briefing. The U.S. has committed about $113 billion in aid to Ukraine since last year, while European allies have committed tens of billions of dollars more and welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees who have fled the conflict. Such aid is funded by U.S. and other foreign taxpayers, with Ukraine under no obligation to provide repayment as it seeks to withstand renewed Russian attempts to regain territory it had earlier conquered. Wang also defended China's “comprehensive strategic partnership" with Russia as “based on non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties, which is within the sovereignty of two independent countries." Wang gave no details on foreign policy chief Wang Yi's visit to Moscow, but called it “an opportunity to work with Russia to jointly promote steady progress of bilateral relations in the direction determined by the two leaders, safeguard each other’s legitimate rights and interests and contribute positively to world peace." Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet with Wang Yi in Moscow, the Kremlin said Monday. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
