China has responded to warnings by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg of dire consequences if it provides military assistance to Russia in its war in Ukraine, stressing that it was not on Moscow's side in its war, but he understood the Russian point of view.
Stoltenberg said China did not condemn what he called Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and went on to sign understandings for unlimited partnership with Russia, warning that any Chinese assistance to Russia would be a big mistake and would have serious consequences.
The NATO chief accused both China and Russia of opposing the rules of the world order, calling on partner countries to stand as allies under the alliance's umbrella.
China's comment on Western concerns in the New York Times came from Chinese Ambassador to the European Union Fu Zong, who said that his country was not on Russia's side in the war on Ukraine, and that Beijing did not provide military assistance to Moscow, nor did it recognize the annexation of Ukrainian territory to Russia, including Crimea and Donbass.
The Chinese ambassador accused the US foreign minister of spreading lies through the media, claiming that China is considering supplying Russia with lethal weapons, stressing that his country will not provide weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine now or in the future.
The Chinese diplomat explained that Beijing did not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, because it understood Russia's view on the defensive war against NATO encroachment, and stressed that the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine are more complex than Western leaders say.
The Chinese ambassador called on the EU to formulate a more coherent policy on the relationship with Beijing, rather than following Washington's lead.
Geopolitical confrontation
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the European Union of "igniting a geopolitical confrontation" with Russia as he received the credentials of the new EU ambassador in Moscow, French diplomat Roland Gallag.
"The European Union has ignited a geopolitical confrontation with Russia," Putin said in a Kremlin speech, lamenting that relations between Moscow and Brussels "have deteriorated sharply in recent years."
NATO meeting
Concerns about China-Russia rapprochement were present in Brussels, where the second and final day of the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting continues.
NATO is hosting representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to discuss the situation on China.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said allies would discuss China's "growing rapprochement with Russia," as well as concerns that Beijing could supply Moscow with weapons.
NATO allies will also discuss the impact of Ukraine's war on the Indo-Pacific region, and will hold a special session with Sweden to discuss its accession to the alliance, as it looks to catch up with Finland after overcoming Turkish and Hungarian reservations.
On the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged China to play a positive role in addressing international security challenges, and expressed a European desire for a constructive partnership with Beijing.
Macron in China
In light of Western concerns about China as well, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit during which he discussed several topics, the most important of which is the war in Ukraine.
Addressing the French community in Beijing, Macron said China could play a key role in finding a path to peace in Ukraine, adding that China's proposal for a peace plan shows a will to take responsibility and try to forge a path to peace.
China this year proposed a 12-point peace plan to resolve the Ukraine crisis and called on both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation leading to a comprehensive ceasefire.
But the plan was widely rejected by the West because of China's reluctance to condemn Russia, and the United States and NATO later said China was considering sending weapons to Russia, which Beijing denied.
French officials say the focus of Macron's talks is to persuade China not to move completely to the Russian camp by sending weapons to Moscow.
Part of Macron's meetings with Chinese officials will be attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who preceded her visit by stressing that the EU's relationship with China would depend on Beijing's position on Russia's war on Ukraine.
Von der Leyen, who will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, called on Beijing, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to play a role in safeguarding the values and principles at the heart of the UN Charter and achieving a just and lasting peace.
Last week, during a keynote speech on the EU-China relationship, von der Leyen also called for a rebalancing of relations with the world's most populous country.
She also stressed that the EU should become more independent and reduce economic risks, while stressing that there is no interest in moving away from China.