Chinese PM calls Russia’s nuclear threats ‘irresponsible’
Read also: China opposes Russia using nuclear weapons against Ukraine
Li made the comments while attending the East Asia Summit along with U.S. President Joe Biden. According to an unnamed U.S. administration official, the Chinese premier “spoke rather extensively about China's policy towards Ukraine.”
Read also: Russia trying to get weapons from Iran, North Korea, China has not helped Kremlin, says Pentagon
According to the official, Li “put clear emphasis on sovereignty, on the irresponsibility of nuclear threats, the need to ensure that nuclear weapons are not used in the way that some have suggested.”
The official also quoted Li as saying that there is “certainly some discomfort in Beijing about our strategic partner Russia’s reckless rhetoric and activity,” despite the formal partnership with Moscow.
Read also: Oil prices rise amid possible fuel demand recovery in China
"I think it is also undeniable that China is probably both surprised and even a little bit embarrassed by the conduct of Russian military operations," the official said.
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to hold a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit on Nov. 14. This will be the first face-to-face meeting of the two leaders.
Read also: China bans exports of liquefied natural gas, reports Bloomberg
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on Sept. 21 once again threatened Western countries with the use of nuclear weapons, saying that “this is not a bluff.”
Ukrainian intelligence has stated that they consider the threat of Russia’s use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine to be very high. However, according to Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the GUR, Russia will not launch a nuclear strike in the near future.
Read also: Russian threats to blow up Kakhovka dam are “crazy” and nuclear strike “impractical”, says Reznikov
The United States said that in the event of the use of nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the response of Washington and its allies will be “decisive.”
At the same time, U.S. President Joe Biden has said he does not believe that Putin will use tactical nuclear weapons.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that the West would give a strong military response to Russia in the event of Moscow using nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
