China vows not to sell arms to any party in Ukraine war

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Source: NBC News

China won’t sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the country’s foreign minister said Friday, responding to Western concerns that Beijing could provide military assistance to Russia.

China has maintained that it is neutral in the conflict, while backing Russia politically, rhetorically and economically at a time when Western nations have imposed punishing sanctions and sought to isolate Moscow for its invasion of its neighbor.

Qin Gang is the highest-level Chinese official to make such an explicit statement about arms sales to Russia. He added that China would also regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use.

“Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude,” Qin said at a news conference alongside visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock. “China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-says-wont-export-weapons-parties-ukraine-war-rcna79683?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_mtp

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[FredGarvin]

1. If China was smart

It would focus on western Russia instead of Taiwan.

Russia proper is ripe for the picking.

[sarisataka]

2. Well,

That's a terrifying first response

[Warpy]

7. You mean eastern

A lot of it was pretty much stolen from China in the 1800s when China was at its weakest. I know they want Upper Manchuria, including Vladivostok, back. It's sparsely populated and rich in mineral and energy, two things they're particularly desperate for.

Putin has been a fucking idiot. Instead of dreaming of a unified Europe under his boot, he should have been taking care of the empire he already had instead of enriching a bunch of St. Petersburg thugs at its expense.

China is neutral because there is nothing in it for them to supply either side. I think what has gone there in the way of clothing, vests, and Soviet era ammo has been unofficial, the ammo disguised as food shipments as much to fool the Chinese brass as anything else.

China doesn't have allies, never has. They have trading partners and they always want to get the better deal.

[XorXor]

15. China has been working toward gaining more and more influence in Central Asia, Russia's playground,

for quite a few years now. Building railway systems to bypass Russia to get to Europe. There's the Khorgos gateway, a dry port on the Kazakhstan-China border, as an example of some China's moves. There are also the concerns that Russian citizens have been expressing over Chinese influence in Eastern Russian regions. The concerns not being much different than what we sometimes here about here in the US and Canada (BC for example). Chinese money moving in buying up property and taking over the city, essentially. Not sure how much of that are legit concerns vs typical xenophobia, though.

Perhaps Russia has accepted being the junior partner in that relationship.

[Botany]

3. Donald Trump: China's Xi is a 'brilliant man' and 'top of the line' smart

Looks like Joe Biden and Anthony Blinken got to China and China is not going to back
Russia in its loosing efforts in Ukraine. This really puts Russia/Vlad in a bind because
Russia is running out of men and equipment in its war on the people of Ukraine

[former9thward]

12. You believe China?

I don't. And they said they would not "sell" weapons. They can lend them or exchange them for other products (oil). The U.S. did the same before our entry in WW II. We were technically neutral but we had the Lend/Lease program to supply the UK and Russia with military equipment and supplies and thus maintain our neutrality.

The U.S. has nothing to offer China. No one got to them.

[Botany]

13. Oh well

China Exports to United States was US$577.13 Billion during 2021

[former9thward]

17. Right.

And if that was cut off our economy would go in the trash can. Tens of millions of Americans have jobs because of those imports.

[sarisataka]

4. But will they sell arms

To countries who in turn may sell them to an involved "party"?

[FredGarvin]

5. Likely not

High volume arms are easily traceable.

[sarisataka]

6. Two words

Plausible Deniability

[FredGarvin]

8. Exactly

The Ukrainians can easily discern the country of manufacture.

Deny all they want. This will just increase Western arms to protect the people from the terrorists.

[mitch96]

9. Yes, that is how the game is played..... Slip the arms to No Korea then to ruzzia...

The big poker game where everybody cheats...
Like So Korea giving 155mm shells to US who is giving 155's to Ukraine..

So So Korea is not really giving arms to Ukraine, right?
m

[louis-t]

10. That tells me that China doesn't side with Russia in this war.

But doesn't want to create tension with their northern neighbor.

[Wonder Why]

11. They don't have to sell arms to be an arms supplier:

They can give them as a "gift" to Putin for lower priced gas or a direct oil pipeline.

They can provide "observation drones"

They can provide parts like electronics for drones, missiles, guns, etc.

They can provide the chemicals to make bombs

They can "buy" future support for their future attack on Taiwan with them.

They can provide lots of artificial arms and legs to those ex-prisoners who manage to survive

They can take over from Russian hackers who are sent to the front for their failure to shut down Ukraine.

etc, etc, etc

[XorXor]

16. Yeah, pretty much what I was thinking

Also, they could just give them arms too. That's not selling.

But giving them the components needed to keep their manufacturing lines moving would keep Russia going.

[ripcord]

14. This was honestly the best response we could have expected from China

[brush]

18. But what about donating them?

Speak up.