MFA China worried war in Ukraine "spiraling out of control"

China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang says Beijing is "deeply worried" about the conflict in Ukraine "spiraling out of control."

Qin said this during a speech at the opening of the Lanting Forum, organized by China’s Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Ukrinform reports with reference to CNN.

"China is deeply worried about the continuous escalation of the conflict and possibility of the situation spiraling out of control... We urge relevant countries to immediately stop fueling the fire, blaming China, and hyping up the rhetoric 'today Ukraine, tomorrow Taiwan," the minister said.

As CNN notes, Qin Gang's statement was made in the context of the visit of China’s top diplomat Wang Yi to Moscow, scheduled for later this week, and against the background of statements by U.S. officials that Beijing is looking into the possibility of providing assistance to the Kremlin involving arms and munitions.

On Monday, Wang Yi said China is ready to cooperate with other countries to achieve a ceasefire and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Beijing has repeatedly refused to directly condemn Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and has refrained from calling it a "war." Instead, the Kremlin's term, "special military operation," has been used. China has consistently laid the blame for the conflict on NATO and the United States.