Bill Gertz
Washington Times, June 26, 2023
“Chinese state-controlled outlets revealed divergent views on the uprising as countries around the world struggled to make sense of the weekend’s chaos and Mr. Putin‘s hold on power.”
China‘s leadership is closely watching recent events in Russia, concerned that a similar military revolt may erupt in Beijing, a senior White House official said Monday.
China‘s communist government on Monday voiced support for Russia following the weekend military action by the Wagner Group, the shadowy private military force run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, in what analysts say reflects concerns China could lose a key ally in its battle against the democratic West.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s backing for Russian President Vladimir Putin following the revolt involving an estimated 25,000 Russian-funded mercenaries.
“The Wagner Group incident is Russia‘s internal affair,” Ms. Mao told reporters in Beijing.
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