Chinese news sources continue to indicate support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. A video posted on Wednesday to the Global Times, a Chinese state-backed news outlet, was titled “Europeans should calm down and not to follow the US in its bloodbath with Russia.”

The video is critical of the United States’ decision to block Russian energy imports. It suggests that unilateral sanctions from the United States will not be effective.

“The US will be the only one to benefit in the conflict between Russia and Europe,” the description for the video says. “Europeans should calm down and not to follow the US in its bloodbath with Russia.”

The video itself seems to be designed to drive a wedge between the United States and its European allies. The commentator suggests that the United States’ actions would damage European countries and force them to fall in line with American strategy, a “lose-lose” situation.

However, the video includes no mention of the costs of the war on Ukraine itself or Ukrainians. It does not discuss Russia’s justification for the war, Russian military losses, or civilian casualties in the conflict.

The video and other articles in the Global Times are unsurprising given China’s public stance on the invasion to this point. China has not withdrawn support for Russia and has seized the opportunity to criticize American efforts to sanction Russia. The Chinese government has not joined in sanctions against China following the invasion. 

The Pentagon has been critical of China’s position on the war. Despite China publicly calling for a diplomatic solution, China has done little to support any negotiated end to the war.

“Certainly, we have taken note that the Chinese, for instance, have at the very least provided a tacit level of approval for what Russia has done,” Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday. “Even to the point of blaming the United States for this war, incredibly.”

Kris Osborn is the Defense Editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Master's Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

Image: Reuters.