China protests NATO’s accusations over Ukraine

The Chinese government on Thursday expressed strong discontent with North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) accusations against China concerning the Ukraine issue, official Xinhua News Agency reported. "China has held an objective and impartial position and actively promoted peace talks, while the US-led NATO allies kept fueling the fire and profiteering from the war," National Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang told a press conference in Beijing. He made remarks when commenting on "allegations" aimed at China in NATO's Washington Summit Declaration earlier this month, which stated that China has become a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war against Ukraine. "NATO needs to reflect on itself, instead of deflecting blame onto China," Zhang said, warning NATO against provoking bloc confrontation and creating division in the Asia-Pacific region. "We urge NATO not to interfere in China's internal affairs, not to challenge our legitimate rights and interests, and not to smear China's domestic and foreig n policies," the spokesman added. Source: Kuwait News Agency