Supporting Peace In Ukraine, China: Nobody Wants To See World War III

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. (Twitter/@MFA_China)

JAKARTA - Chinese authorities say they are not seeking World War III and support resolving the conflict in Ukraine through diplomacy, according to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin

"No one wants to see World War III," he stressed.

"It is necessary to support the process of promoting peace talks [between Russia and Ukraine]," he continued in response to questions from Western journalists about how China's Foreign Ministry assessed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's recent remarks about the threat of World War III.

According to Wang Wenbin, the armed conflict in Ukraine should not be allowed to drag on. He pointed to the need to prevent the negative consequences that could result in the Ukraine conflict affecting not only Europe, but the whole world.

"We hope all relevant parties will show balance and prevent escalation," he hoped.

China and Russia are getting closer, with Beijing having refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a 'special military operation'. China has blamed the Ukraine crisis on NATO's eastward expansion.

China has repeatedly criticized western sanctions, including sanctions against Russia, but has also been careful not to provide assistance to Moscow that could lead to sanctions being imposed on Beijing.

"No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain committed to the previously adopted policies aimed at cooperating with Russia to enhance strategic cooperation," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said at a meeting with Russia's Ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, according to a statement issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.