Chinese media has started to report Russian causalities in the Ukrainian war, in a departure from earlier coverage that more closely followed the narrative coming out of Moscow.
CGTN, the international arm of the state-run China Central Television, tweeted footage released by Ukrainian forces showing a Russian tank firing on a civilian in Mariupol. CGTN also started running footage on its YouTube channel of Kyiv residents taking shelter and missiles hitting near Lviv’s airport.
The People’s Daily, the mouthpiece newspaper of the Chinese communist party, also cited the Ukrainian foreign ministry in reporting that 14,000 Russian troops were killed in its Twitter feed.
China has sent three batches of humanitarian supplies, including powdered milk for children and quilts, to Ukraine.
Fan Xianrong, the Chinese ambassador to Ukraine this week praised the unity and strength of the Ukrainian people and said China would never attack the country but be a “good force” to the country, “both economically and politically”.
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“Since the conflict broke out, China has been taking concrete deeds to mediate for peace and push for dialogues,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, said today. “China’s fair stance and constructive efforts are for all to witness.”
State media’s coverage of the war remains predominantly anti-US and pro-Russia at home, as Beijing is yet to denounce Moscow’s aggression. President Biden, when he speaks with President Xi later today, is expected to warn the Chinese leader not to support Russia or face consequences.
US officials have accused Beijing of amplifying Russia’s disinformation and expressed concerns that China was weighing whether to provide military or financial support to Russia.
In China, the anti-Washington rhetoric remains strong, and Xi is to declare to the US side the country’s “solemn stance” on the China-US relations and on Ukraine, the Global Times, a party-run newspaper said.
“China will not accept any threats and coercion from the US,” the newspaper said, citing an unnamed official. “If the measures taken by the US should hurt China’s legitimate interests, hurt the legal rights of Chinese businesses and individuals, China will not sit idle but will make strong responses.”
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“The US should have no illusion or misjudgment on this,” the paper said.
The same official told the Global Times that Beijing will urge Washington not to seek a new Cold War, not to subvert China’s political system, not to strengthen alliances against China, and not to support the independence of Taiwan.
This morning, China sailed its aircraft carrier Shandong through the Taiwan Strait, shadowed by the USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, according to Reuters.
