China Instead Chooses Russian Wheat Imports Instead Of Joining In Condemning The Invasion Of Ukraine

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (Twitter @globaltimesnews)

JAKARTA - When the world was busy condemning Russia's move to launch an attack on Ukraine, China took a different step. China will instead start importing Russian wheat.

It was taken as a step that could reduce the impact of Western sanctions on Russia. China has also refused to join in condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Instead, they asked all parties to exercise restraint and instead accused the United States of triggering this tension.

In a Foreign Ministry briefing that lasted more than 90 minutes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying avoided more than 11 questions regarding Russia's actions in Ukraine.

This circumvention also includes repeated questions about whether Beijing would consider Russia's actions an invasion and whether they violated Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Hua said China would start importing Russian wheat.

"The issue of Ukraine has a very complicated historical background. It has developed to the current situation due to the joint action of various factors ... security must be a matter of mutual cooperation and ongoing security, and legitimate security issues of all parties must be respected and addressed ," Hua said sticking to the comments made the previous day.

China will closely follow the latest situation and call on parties to exercise restraint to avoid the situation spiraling out of control, Hua said repeatedly.

After questions from various media outlets about whether China considered Russia's move as an invasion, Hua asked reporters, "Why are you obsessed with this question?

"You can ask the US side. They keep starting the fire... you can ask them if they have any plans to put out the fire."

On Thursday, China's customs administration also said it would start allowing wheat imports from February 24 from Russia. The two countries announced a deal earlier this month for China to import Russian wheat during Putin's visit to Beijing to meet President Xi and attend the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics.