China’s role questioned?
Zelensky announced the detentions and said he had asked his foreign minister to contact Beijing “immediately.” Beijing has offered Moscow strong diplomatic support, but is not publicly known to provide it with troops or weaponry. Russia’s rules allow foreigners to enlist in its military, as does Ukraine.
“The presence of Chinese citizens fighting in Ukraine undermines Beijing’s declared neutrality and its credibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media, noting that the ministry summoned China’s chargé d’affaires for an explanation.
Skirmish in Donetsk
According to Zelensky, a clash with Chinese fighters took place near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka, where six Chinese nationals engaged Ukrainian troops. Two were captured, while four apparently escaped. There was no immediate comment from Beijing.
If confirmed, China would become the third country publicly linked to providing some form of military assistance to Russia, following Iran—which has shipped attack drones—and North Korea, which the United States and South Korea say supplied soldiers.
Despite maintaining ties with Russia, China has consistently referred to itself as neutral in the conflict. Beijing does maintain an economic lifeline for Moscow via purchases of energy and consumer goods—an arrangement that has strengthened since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
(jh)
Source: Associated Press, The Guardian