China wary of being impacted by Russia sanctions: Foreign minister

Chinadoesnotwantto be impacted by Western economicsanctionsonRussia, theforeignministry said Tuesday, as pressure grows on Beijing to withdraw support from an isolated Moscow.

Beijing has refused to condemn its close allyRussiaover its invasion of Ukraine, while blaming the United States and NATO's "eastward expansion" for worsening tensions.

Moscow and Beijing have grown closer in recent times, in what Washington sees as an increasingly hostile alliance of the authoritarian nuclear powers.

"Chinais not a party to the crisis, still less wants to beaffectedby thesanctions,"ForeignMinisterWang Yi said, according to a readout of a phone call with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares published on Tuesday.

Chinahas "always opposed usingsanctionsto solve problems, let alone unilateralsanctionsthat have no basis in international law", Wang said, according to the readout.

Around three weeks after Russian troops marched into Ukraine, Moscow's forces have bombarded and besieged several towns and cities.

Wang's comments were published after a seven-hour meeting between high-ranking US and Chinese officials in Rome, at which Washington said the US had expressed concern about "alignment" betweenRussiaandChina.

US media has reported thatRussiahas askedChinafor military and economic assistance, as its troops struggle to make ground and its economy faces devastation from Westernsanctions.

The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, said there was no indication whetherChinahad responded.

But Beijing has so far sent mixed signals onRussia's bloody invasion and US officials say the jury is still out on howChinawill act.

Foreignministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Tuesday told reporters that Beijing "strongly urges the US not to harmChina's legitimate rights and interests when handling relations withRussia".

Asked about articles saying Moscow had asked Beijing for help, Zhao accused the US of "spreading disinformation" againstChina.

"Our aim is very clear, that is, to promote de-escalation of the situation... and end the conflict," he added.

Deep concerns

In the Rome meeting on Monday with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan,China's senior diplomat Yang Jiechi reiterated the country's stance that Beijing is "committed to promoting peace talks", the official Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday.

Chinacalled on all parties to exercise "maximum restraint" and "protect civilians" in the Ukraine crisis at the meeting.

The international community should support such talks to achieve substantive results as soon as possible, Yang said.

Watch |Gravitas: US warns China against helping Russia

Although Beijingdoesnot back Westernsanctions, the White House is pressuring the world's second-largest economy to refrain from rescuingRussiafrom potential default or sending weaponry.

"We've communicated very clearly to Beijing that we won't stand by," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

"We will not allow any country to compensateRussiafor its losses."