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China ‘anxious and regretful’ over Ukraine war, PLA strategist says
- Lieutenant General He Lei says Beijing was taken by surprise when Moscow invaded its neighbour and denies that it is pressuring Kyiv to give up territory
- But He also criticises the US for using the war to pressure Russia and asks whether Washington really wants peace
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China was shocked by the Ukraine war and is worried about the situation as it tries to find a peaceful solution, a People’s Liberation Army strategist has said.
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Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Shangri-La defence dialogue in Singapore, Lieutenant General He Lei stressed that Beijing had not been expecting the war, which began when Russia invaded its neighbour in February last year.
“China is very anxious and regretful because so far we have not seen the dawn of peace,” He told the Post, adding Beijing believes that negotiation is the only solution to end the war.
He questioned if the United States was for peace or war, adding that Washington’s current actions would prolong the conflict.
“I want to ask if the US really wants peace? If you [the US] actually want to be the ‘black hand’ behind the scene, or are you serious about becoming the friend who brings peace?” he asked.
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He’s remarks are consistent with comments made by Li Hui, China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs, who said after wrapping up his 12-day tour of Europe last month he had felt it was “rather difficult” to get all parties to sit down at the negotiation table.
He, a former vice-president of the PLA’s Academy of Military Sciences who led the Chinese delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2017 and 2018, denied media reports that Beijing wanted to persuade Ukraine to “give up territory to Moscow as price of peace”.
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