China has rejected claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Beijing is aware that its citizens are being recruited to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukrainian authorities have information on 155 Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russia, following a video released by the Ukrainian military, which claims to have captured two Chinese mercenaries in eastern Ukraine.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that "we will advise relevant parties to recognize China's role accurately and clearly and avoid making irresponsible comments."
Jian made these comments without mentioning Ukraine or its president by name during a press conference.
Zelensky has stepped up criticism of Beijing in recent days after announcing that Kiev had detained two Chinese citizens in the eastern Donetsk region.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to Russia's recruitment of its citizens and allowing them to take part in the war, which is now in its fourth year.
"We emphasize that they [China] knew about this. They are Chinese citizens; they are fighting against us, using weapons against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine. So far it is not known whether their motive is money or not, or politics. But, it will be known," Zelensky said.
Beijing has denied sending soldiers to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian forces, but the participation of Chinese citizens in the war has been previously documented in Russian and Chinese language social media posts.
It is believed that a hundred or more Chinese nationals may have traveled to fight as mercenaries for the Russian military.
A Russian Defense Ministry hospital database, obtained exclusively by Radio Free Europe in February, also showed that Chinese mercenaries had been injured while serving alongside Russian troops.
Zelensky told reporters he was not aware of whether China had “given any kind of command” to those now fighting for Russia. However, he said Beijing must have been aware that some people were joining another country’s military in exchange for pay.
While foreign soldiers fighting for both sides, Ukraine and Russia, have been a factor in the war since the full-scale occupation began in 2022, this is the first time Kiev has made such accusations about Chinese fighters.
Beijing has maintained its neutrality in the war and has been reluctant to provide weapons or military expertise to Russia./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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