Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at a closed meeting with EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas, stated that Beijing cannot allow Russia's defeat in the war against Ukraine, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP) citing informed sources. According to the newspaper's interlocutors, he explained that otherwise the US would shift all its attention to Beijing.
Wang Yi also assured that China has not provided material support to Russia, either financially or militarily, stating that otherwise the war would have ended long ago.
At the same time, the Chinese Foreign Minister made it clear that Beijing will respond to the EU's inclusion of Chinese banks in the 18th package of sanctions against Russia.
During the negotiations, which lasted four hours, Wang Yi delivered several "historical lectures" to Kallas, noted SCMP sources. After which he stated that Beijing might shorten the EU-China summit program, hinting at dissatisfaction with EU policy.
SCMP notes that European officials were struck by the frankness of the Chinese minister's statements.