China dismissed as “fake news” a report it instructed Russia to delay its invasion of Ukraine until after the Beijing-hosted Winter Olympics were over, an explosive claim likely to further fan speculation the two military powers are in cahoots.
The new report, from a Western intelligence source and passed along to the New York Times by senior Biden administration officials, is the clearest indication yet that Beijing knew of Russia’s intentions in Ukraine. Fears that the two nations could coordinate attacks on Ukraine and Taiwan have percolated since well before Russia launched its invasion one week ago. But on Thursday, China sought to shoot down the report.
“The New York Times report is purely fake news, and such behaviors of diverting attentions and shifting blames are very despicable,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were known to have met on Feb. 4 in Beijing, where Putin attended early ceremonies for the games before leaving well before the Feb. 20 conclusion. The countries subsequently issued a lengthy joint statement denouncing NATO, vowing to implement a new world order, and asserting their alliance has “no limits.” While China has sent mixed signals on its view of Ukraine’s invasion, both acknowledging Ukraine’s sovereignty and still refusing to take part in international sanctions against Russia, Wang blamed the West for provoking the war by dangling NATO membership in front of Ukraine.
“We hope the culprit of the crisis would reflect on their role in the Ukraine crisis, take up their responsibilities, and take practical actions to ease the situation and solve the problem instead of blaming others,” Wang said at a daily briefing.
The report was based on classified information gathered by an unnamed Western intelligence agency and deemed credible by the United States. One official told the New York Times the material did not necessarily indicate discussions about an invasion took place between Xi and Putin and may have taken place at levels below the leaders.
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Russia had thousands of troops positioned on its western border months before the games began, but Putin did surge more to the region the day after the games ended, even sending them into a disputed portion of Ukraine long controlled by pro-Moscow forces. On the same day, he delivered an emotional, televised speech attempting to justify the all-out invasion he launched on Feb. 24.
