TOKYO — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday slammed China for providing vital backing for Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Wadephul’s criticism comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders to discuss Moscow’s conflict with Kyiv.
“Russia’s war is made possible by crucial Chinese support,” Wadephul said in a speech at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Tokyo, during a visit to Japan.
“80 percent of the dual-use goods that Russia uses come from China,” the German top diplomat added. “And at the same time, China is the largest buyer of Russian oil and gas. And this is a development that of course not only runs massively counter to our European security interests, but also those of our partners in the Indo-Pacific.”
Trump previously threatened secondary sanctions against countries that buy Russian energy, and has announced a 25 percent tariff on India for buying Russian oil, in addition to another 25 percent tariff due to trade tensions. However, Trump has so far refrained from taking such action against China.
Wadephul added that Beijing’s behavior “shows that China preaches the principles of non-interference and territorial integrity, but in reality undermines them.”
His remarks underline how the new German government is pursuing a China-critical policy, maintaining the harder stance of previous Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock — who had called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator — and departing from the softly-softly approach of longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Wadephul also highlighted North Korea sending ammunition and troops to Russia, which experts say would not be possible without China’s approval.
“If Russia is firing North Korean artillery shells on Ukraine today, then this undermines the security order in Europe, but it also upsets the balance of power in Asia. Because it is clear that Russia is showing its gratitude to North Korea for this assistance by transferring technology and expertise,” he said.
Speaking earlier to reporters in Tokyo, Wadephul also warned about concerning developments in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, where Beijing “repeatedly threatens, more or less openly, to unilaterally change the status quo and shift its borders.”
“However, one thing is clear,” he added. “The prohibition of violence enshrined in the United Nations Charter applies, and any escalation at this sensitive hub of international trade would have serious consequences for global security and the world economy.”
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