The Chinese media, a sounding board for the Russian version of the war in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine spreads, the official Chinese media presents its own version of the Russian invasion, based largely on the rhetoric of Vladimir Putin.

Since the February 24 intervention, the Chinese regime has refused to use the word “invasion” and blames the conflict on Western countries and the “expansion” of the NATO.

China It has not condemned the Russian invasion, a position that is reflected in the official media and social networks, in a context of strict information control.

The day the Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the attack, the news agency Xinhua repeated the language of the Kremlin, speaking of a “special military operation” and stating that Russia does not have “no intention” to occupy Ukraine.

The media carefully avoids the term “war”preferring words like “conflict” or “struggle”.

“China intentionally uses very vague language”said Justyna Szczudlikspecialist in China the Polish Institute of International Affairs. With that, Beijing he hopes not to antagonize his European partners, he says.

“solid as a rock”

China has to juggle two foreign policy imperatives.

On the one hand, his sacrosanct commitment to defend the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of States (despite the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty). And on the other, stay close to Moscowwith whom he shares hostility towards United States.

Last week, the foreign minister, Wang Yi, congratulated on a friendship “solid as a rock” with Russia.

and defended the “legitimate security concerns” of Moscow, that is to say the expansion of the NATOat the root of the conflict.

This delicate balance also affects the media. An official directive leaked online asks them not to spread content unfavorable to Russia.

During the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games from Beijing, a condemnation of the war was not translated on Chinese television.

And the Chinese rights owners of the English soccer league decided not to broadcast the matches on the first weekend of March because the players had planned to show their support for Ukraine.

“There is no smoke without fire”

In social networks, favorable keywords appear Putin and calls for capitulation Ukraine circulate uncensored, while pro-Ukrainian messages are blocked.

Some media outlets also take Russian conspiracy theories at face value. “There is no smoke without fire”commented the Global Times, on Russian claims of alleged US biological laboratories in Ukraine.

However, the nationalist daily remained silent on Washington’s denial, which called the accusations “blatant lies”.

“Like any country, China is primarily concerned with its own interests”says the analyst Richard Ghiasythe Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague.

However, for Beijing “stable and predictable ties with Russia are absolutely essential”.

The Chinese media barely talk about the influx of refugees into the European Union (EU).

However, the public chain in English CGTNaimed at a foreign audience, awarded a “exclusive interview” to the leader of the self-proclaimed Republic of Donetskin eastern Ukraine, only recognized by Moscow.

In this interview, Denis Pushilin spoke of the “liberated areas” by the Russian army and said that “the vast majority of citizens want to be as close as possible to Russia”.

Despite this media bias, Chinese diplomacy tries to position itself as an impartial actor willing to play a mediating role between kyiv and Moscow.

China maintains a “independent policy on the Ukraine issue and develops ties with all parties to inject stability in the world”the Global Times said on Friday.