Russia claimed that China expressed its “support” for the efforts of leader Vladimir Putin to “stabilize the situation” after the rebellion of the Wagner paramilitary group, that rocked the Kremlin, after a meeting between deputy foreign ministers in Beijing. China, for its part, offered a slightly different version of what happened at the meeting.
In a meeting on Sunday in Beijing between Russian Vice Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, “lThe Chinese side expressed its support for the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation to stabilize the situation in the countryin relation to the events of June 24”, marked by the insurrection of the Wagner group, indicated Russian diplomacy in a statement.
Likewise, Beijing expressed its interest in “strengthening the unity and prosperity of Russia,” the statement added. The Chinese side, however, delivered a text to the press in which it maintains that the meeting between the two vice ministers served to “exchange points of view” on bilateral relations and on “international and regional issues of common interest.”
Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Andrei Rudenko, is in Beijing Sunday for a meeting with the Chinese foreign minister to secure the future of the China-Russia relationship and assure China’s leadership of the Kremlin’s durability. https://t.co/O3FJT2MCCf
— The New York Sun (@NewYorkSun) June 25, 2023
“Non-intervention”
It is not clear if the meeting between the two authorities was scheduled in advance or took place as a consequence of the uprising of the Wagner mercenary group, that put the regime of Vladimir Putin on the ropes. China is Moscow’s main international ally, despite which it has not yet expressed itself publicly about what happened on Saturday in Russian territory.
“China will continue to support Russia and emphasize non-intervention in internal affairs.”Chinese military expert and television commentator Song Zhongping told Reuters. The press of the Asian power closely followed the rebellion, although it has avoided any type of comment while awaiting the official position of the Xi Jinping regime.
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