China denies significant numbers of its citizens fighting for Russia in Ukraine

AP:

Ukraine’s claim that significant numbers of Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia’s invading army is “totally unfounded”, a Beijing official said Wednesday, as the US strives to secure a ceasefire in the more than three-year war.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese men fighting alongside the Russian army on Ukrainian soil and had information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces.

It was the first time Ukraine had made such a claim about Chinese fighters in the war.

China has provided strong diplomatic support for Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Beijing has also offered an economic lifeline through the trade in energy and consumer goods, but is not believed to have knowingly provided Russia with troops, weapons or military expertise.

US officials have accused Iran of providing Russia with drones, while American and South Korean officials say North Korea has sent thousands of troops and ammunition to help Russia on the battlefield.

With the US and Europe having provided substantial military support and diplomatic heft for Ukraine, the war has to some degree become a contest between power blocs.

Tensions between the US and China have deepened in recent years. Disputes have centred on geopolitical influence, technology and trade — and recently escalating import tariffs between the countries have roiled global financial markets.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at a briefing in Washington on Tuesday that reports of Chinese citizens fighting on behalf of Russia were “disturbing”.

“China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine,” Bruce said. China provides nearly 80 per cent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war, she claimed.

The Kremlin has effectively rejected a US proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting in Ukraine. The Kyiv government has consented to it. Both sides are believed to be readying spring-summer military campaigns.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in Beijing that China has played a “constructive role in politically resolving the Ukraine crisis”.

Lin told a daily news briefing Wednesday that “the Chinese government always asks Chinese citizens to stay away from conflict zones, avoid getting involved in any form of armed conflict, and especially refrain from participating in any party’s military operations.”

His comments appeared to indicate that the captured Chinese had joined Russia’s ranks on their own initiative. Both Russia and Ukraine allow foreign soldiers to enlist.

China has previously put forward a vague peace plan that was swiftly dismissed by most observers.

In the meantime, both countries have kept fighting a war of attrition along the roughly 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line and targeted each other with long-range strikes.