The US Ambassador to China, Burns, urged the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 4th to refrain from spreading Russia’s “lie” over the war in Ukraine. It is unusual for the US ambassador to China to directly and publicly blame.
At the World Peace Forum hosted by Tsinghua University, Ambassador Burns “requested” the Chinese side to stop the spread of lies in response to the question of what China can do to resolve the crisis surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She also urged China not to help her carry out the war in Russia.
Ambassador to China Burns of the United States (October 20, 2021)
Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg
“I hope you stop blaming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for starting this war, which is Russia’s propaganda,” Burns told a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. “There is also no US Institute for Biological Weapons in Ukraine, and I hope a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry will stop lying regarding this,” he said.
“These are all from Russia, which unfortunately China is picking up,” he added.
China has stated that it does not support the war and is urging talks to stop the fighting, but senior officials and state media have repeatedly criticized the United States for stimulating Russia with its acceptance of NATO expansion. Chinese diplomats such as Hua Chunying and Zhao Lijian are also using the official platform to develop a conspiracy theory supported by Russia that the United States manufactures biological weapons in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the US side has denied these allegations and has accused China of spreading disinformation.
At a regular press conference in Beijing on the 4th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao dismissed Ambassador Burns’ criticism, re-requested additional information on US activities in Ukraine, and spoke with the Chinese people to Mr. Burns. He called on us to listen to our views on NATO. He also claimed that “it is the US officials who are disinformation, not China.”
Original title:US Ambassador Urges China to Stop Spreading Russian ‘Lies’ (1)(excerpt)
