TAIPEI, Taiwan — Russia mentioned on Sunday that China threw its assist behind President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to stabilize the nation after an aborted rise up towards the Kremlin by a military of mercenaries.
The Russian Overseas Ministry mentioned China declared assist for the management in Moscow throughout a beforehand unannounced journey to Beijing by Russian Deputy Overseas Minister Andrei Rudenko.
“The Chinese language aspect expressed assist for the efforts of the management of the Russian Federation to stabilize the scenario within the nation in reference to the occasions of June 24, and reaffirmed its curiosity in strengthening the unity and additional prosperity of Russia,” the Russian assertion mentioned.
Rudenko met with Chinese language Overseas Minister Qin Gang to debate “worldwide and regional problems with frequent concern,” the Chinese language Overseas Ministry mentioned on its web site.
Rudenko’s go to got here only a day after Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of personal mercenary military Wagner Group, ordered his troops to march on Moscow within the biggest problem to Putin’s greater than 20 years in energy. Prigozhin afterward Saturday reached a take care of the Kremlin to enter exile.
It was unclear whether or not Rudenko’s go to to China was in response to the rise up.
The Chinese language Overseas Ministry mentioned in a press release late Sunday that the rebellion was “Russia’s inside affair.”
“As a pleasant neighbor and complete strategic accomplice within the new period, China helps Russia in sustaining nationwide stability and reaching improvement and prosperity,” it mentioned, with out explicitly referencing Russia’s management.
China and Russia, whereas not formal allies, have maintained shut ties all through Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which China has refused to sentence.
The USA and different Western powers have urged Beijing to not provide Russia with arms that might be used within the Ukraine battle. China in Might despatched an envoy to Ukraine and Russia in an try to mediate talks to finish the struggle.
Whereas in Beijing, Rudenko additionally held talks with Chinese language Vice Overseas Minister Ma Zhaoxu. The 2 sides pledged to “strengthen solidarity and cooperation” and promote the Shanghai Cooperation Group, a security-focused regional group that each Russia and China belong to, in line with a readout of the talks by the Chinese language Overseas Ministry.
“Below the complicated and extreme worldwide scenario, it’s essential to … talk in a well timed method, make sure the steady and long-term relationship between the 2 international locations and safeguard the frequent pursuits of each side,” Ma mentioned.
Though short-lived, analysts say the Wagner Group revolt uncovered additional weaknesses of Putin, whose picture has already been badly bruised by the Ukraine struggle, which has dragged on for 16 months and claimed large numbers of Russian troops.