Stoltenberg: West must punish China for supporting Russia
18 June 2024 11:15
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the West should take action against China for its support of Russia in the war against Ukraine. He said this during a speech at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington, D.C., reports "Komersant Ukrainian" citing Yevropeiska Pravda.
The NATO Secretary General accused Beijing of fuelling the conflict, noting:
“Chinese leader Xi Jinping has tried to give the impression that he is taking a back seat in this conflict to avoid sanctions and keep trade going.”
However, Stoltenberg stressed that China is actually supplying Russia with critical components for its military industry and improving its satellite capabilities. He called this fuelling the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and pointed out that last year, Russia imported 90% of its microelectronic components needed to produce missiles, tanks and aircraft from China. In addition, he said, Beijing is working to improve satellite capabilities for Moscow. And at the same time, China wants to maintain good relations with the West.
“Beijing cannot have it both ways. At some point – and if China doesn’t change course – its allies must make it pay. There must be consequences,”
– stoltenberg said
He believes that the only way to peace is to support Ukraine.
“The more reliable the long-term support for Ukraine, the sooner Moscow will realise that it cannot wait out the Western countries. It may seem like a paradox, but the path to peace is more weapons for Ukraine,”
– said the NATO Secretary General.
However, NATO states did not agree on the annual $40 billion funding for Ukraine.
