China denies asking Russia to delay Ukraine invasion until post-Olympics, denounces report
The Hindu
Russia had launched an attack on Georgia during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, angering some in the Chinese leadership and among the public
China on Thursday denounced a report that it asked Russia to delay invading Ukraine until after the Beijing Winter Olympics as “fake news” and a “very despicable" attempt to divert attention and shift blame over the conflict.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also repeated China's accusations that Washington provoked the war by not ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine.
Also read | Russia-Ukraine crisis live updates
“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,” Mr. Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.
“ The New York Times report is purely fake news, and such behaviours of diverting attentions and shifting blames are very despicable," Mr. Wang said.
The Times article cited a “Western intelligence report” considered credible by officials.
“The report indicates that senior Chinese officials had some level of direct knowledge about Russia's war plans or intentions before the invasion started last week," the Times wrote.
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