SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s foreign minister said she raised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with her Chinese counterpart, telling reporters after their meeting that all countries want to see China “do the right thing” and not supply weapons to Russia.
Washington and its allies have said in recent weeks that China was considering providing weapons to Russia, which Beijing denies.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she raised Russia’s conduct in her meeting with China’s foreign minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi.
Wong told reporters responsibility for what is occurring in Ukraine “lies at the feet of Russia”, but the world looks to China for responsible leadership on Ukraine given its close relationship with Moscow.
“I would note that (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy) himself has said he wants to believe that China will do the right thing and not supply weapons to Russia. And that is not only Australia’s call, but the call of all countries,” she said.
The United States is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for the war, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing four U.S. officials and other sources.
A top Chinese diplomat in Australia published an opinion article in local media on Wednesday arguing NATO was the cause of the conflict, and though Russia was “encircled by Western countries” it hadn’t been brought down by sanctions or defeated on the battlefield.
“Worryingly, the crisis has now turned into a confrontation between NATO and Russia,” wrote Ruan Zongze, China’s consul general in Queensland state, adding China would support Russia resolve the issue through negotiation.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham)
