Chinese soldiers.Photo: AFP
The Chinese government denies that its citizens are participating in the war on the side of Russia against Ukraine and promises to investigate the circumstances under which two Chinese were captured in Donetsk region while fighting for the Russian army.
This was stated by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Lin Jian, in response to a request from an Ukrinform correspondent in Beijing regarding the prisoners’ appeal to the Chinese authorities to return them to their homeland.
“The position of the Chinese government is clear: we have repeatedly called on our citizens to avoid armed conflict zones and not to participate in hostilities on either side,” the spokesman stressed.
According to Lin Jian, China is “checking all available information and circumstances” regarding the capture of Zhang Zhenbao and Wang Guangjun, who were detained by the Ukrainian military in Donetsk region.
“The behaviour of these individuals will be assessed in accordance with Chinese law,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson added, stressing that China “continues to be neutral” in the so-called “Ukrainian crisis” and supports a political and diplomatic settlement.
China also called for refraining from political manipulation of the prisoner issue for PR purposes.
Earlier , two Chinese men in military uniforms addressed the Chinese government at a press conference in Kyiv with a request to return them home as part of the exchange. One of them warned his fellow citizens: “Do not participate in this war”.
