An episode that can be described as diplomatic has caused the arrest of two Chinese who fought in the Ukraine by her side Russiaaccording to Kiev.
The two Chinese, Wang Guanjung and Zhang Renbo, who were arrested in eastern Ukraine earlier this month, accused Moscow of lies and propaganda, with one claiming that Russia prevented them from returning home.
At the same time, the two Chinese who, as they argued during a press conference yesterday, Monday (14.04.25) ended up prisoners in Ukraine, said that forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin were not as strong as they claimed.
The two Chinese, wearing handcuffs and a military enclosure in an update organized by Ukrinform, the National News Agency in Ukraine, said: “Everything that Russia feds us is lies. Russia is not as strong as they claim and Ukraine is not as retrograde as they say. “
Ukraine President Volodimir Zelenski initially asked Beijing to explain why Chinese soldiers, as he told them, were fighting for Russia.
The two detainees reported that they did not fight on behalf of China and had no links with the Chinese state authorities. On the contrary, they were recruited as mercenaries online.
“I hope China will be able to exchange me” under a deal with Russia and Ukraine “and bring me back to China,” one of them, 26 -year -old Jiang Renbo, said.
The other, 33 -year -old Wang Guangzun, called on “universes who want to participate in the war in Ukraine” not to do so.
They made these statements alongside armed and covered by Ukrainian military faces in a way that does not allow us to know if they were talking without coercion.
China: To avoid ‘political manipulation’
Beijing called on Tuesday to avoid “political manipulation” and “excessive noise from the media” in the two Chinese case captured in Ukraine after fighting, according to Kiev, on the side of Russia.
“We invite interested parties to have a fair view of China’s objective and impartial position and to abstain from any political manipulation and excessive media noise,” said Lynn Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“Chinese authorities are currently confirming information and circumstances” around these two nationals, he said in a regular press conference.
Ukraine announced the arrest of two Chinese citizens last week, with Beijing categorically denouncing any involvement in their recruitment in Moscow forces.
“The position of the Chinese government is clear and without ambiguity,” said Lynn Jian, a spokesman for Chinese diplomacy.
“We have issued security warnings repeatedly, asking Chinese citizens to avoid conflict zones (…) and in particular to avoid participating in military operations in any side,” he said.
China often calls for peace negotiations and respect for the territorial integrity of all countries, Ukraine, including.
But he never condemned Russia and reinforced economic, diplomatic and military relations with Moscow after the Russian invasion began in February 2022.