Qin Gang, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, said Sunday that China would not send weapons and ammunition to support Russia’s war in Ukraine and that Beijing would "do everything to de-escalate the crisis.”
Qin’s comments, which were aimed at an American audience, presented a softer tone than the one officials in Beijing have used when discussing the war, particularly in domestic settings.
The remarks came as higher-ranking Chinese officials continued to accuse the United States and Europe of instigating the conflict, and continued to amplify Russian disinformation that served as a rationale for the invasion. They also followed U.S. President Joe Biden’s warning Friday to Chinese President Xi Jinping that China would face "consequences” if Beijing gave material aid to Russia to support its war.