China’s Foreign Ministry on Its Position Regarding Ukraine

China's position on the Ukrainian issue is consistent. Beijing urges all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. This was stated by Wang Wenbin, the official spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, during a press conference on February 25, responding to a question about whether China considers the 'invasion' of Ukraine to be military after recent events.

“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country must be respected and protected. The main goals and principles of the UN Charter must be defended through joint efforts; this is a principle that China has upheld, as well as the basic norm of international relations that all countries should adhere to,” the diplomat stated.

At the same time, he noted that the history of the Ukrainian issue is complex and particular, and understanding Russia's rational security concerns, China advocates for a complete abandonment of Cold War thinking and the formation of a balanced, effective, and sustainable mechanism for European security through dialogue and negotiation.

The diplomat also did not directly answer the question of whether China would recognize the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), only mentioning that the Ukrainian issue has a complex history and expressing hope that the parties would resolve their disagreements through negotiations.

“Ukraine is undoubtedly a sovereign state, and China’s position on the Ukrainian issue is clear and consistent; it has not changed,” he stated in response to the question of whether Beijing still considers Ukraine a sovereign state.