U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Bali, Indonesia, on Saturday. (Stefani Reynolds / Pool / AFP / Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reprimanded China for backing Russia after it met with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Saturday for more than five hours.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia, Blinken said: “G20 nations have come together to address some of the most critical challenges facing the people of G20. around the world, including the far-reaching consequences of Russia’s aggression. against Ukraine, especially growing food insecurity, rising energy prices. ”
“We have heard most countries condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” he added.
However, he said: “What you hear from Beijing is that it says to be neutral. I would start with the proposal that it is quite difficult to be neutral when it comes to this aggression.”
“There is a clear aggressor, there is a clear victim, there is a clear challenge not only to the lives and livelihoods of the people of Ukraine, but also a challenge to the international order that is supposed to China and the United States, as permanent members of the Security Council, must defend themselves, “Blinken added. “I don’t think China is, in fact, getting involved in a way that suggests neutrality,” he said.
“More than 11 million people in Ukraine have fled their homes since the aggression began. This is more than a quarter of the total population of Ukraine. These are huge figures, and will only increase as the war continues, ”he said.
More than four months after this brutal invasion, the PRC (China) is still on the side of Russia, circulating Russian propaganda around the world, “Blinken added.