Beijing sidesteps question of Russian nuclear use in Ukraine

China’s Foreign Ministry has not denied Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s statement that Beijing would not allow Russia to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine, while reiterating its call for a political settlement of the conflict.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a media briefing in response to a question about Stubb’s statement.

“Following the meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the President of Finland [on July 5 – Ed.], we issued a press release,” Guo said in response to a request to comment on Stubb’s remarks concerning China’s non-public position on Russia’s potential use of nuclear weapons.

The Chinese diplomat did not directly deny Stubb’s claim, instead stressing that Beijing’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the use of nuclear weapons remains unchanged.

“China’s position on the ‘Ukraine crisis’ [the official term used by China for Russia’s war against Ukraine – Ed.] and on the use of nuclear weapons is consistent and clear. We continue to call for peace talks and a political settlement of the conflict,” Guo said.

China officially maintains a defensive nuclear doctrine and a no-first-use policy, under which its nuclear arsenal would be used only in response to a nuclear attack against China.

The official Chinese Foreign Ministry statement on Wang Yi’s July 5 meeting with Stubb does not mention either Russia’s war against Ukraine or nuclear weapons. At the time, Wang told the Finnish president that “the current international landscape is marked by changes and turbulence, and the world risks returning to the law of the jungle.”

“China will continue to be an important force for peace, stability and development in today’s world,” China’s top diplomat added.

Earlier, Stubb said that China had assured him during private talks that it would not allow Russia to use nuclear weapons.

By Vafa Guliyeva