Agencies France-Presse (AFP) reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pressuring China to take a stand condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Boris Johnson called on Western countries to join forces in condemning Russia’s invasion of China, China’s strategic ally, and other countries that have not taken a stand.
“As time goes on, I think it will become harder and more politically difficult for people to tolerate Putin’s invasion, whether active or passive, as the number of Russian atrocities increases,” the British leader said.
In his view, countries that do not want to make decisions now face “significant difficulties”.
“I think suspicions are beginning to surface in Beijing,” he said.
The appeal echoes that of Ukraine, which on Saturday killed dozens of people in the wake of new attacks “condemning Russian barbarism” in China.
Ukraine and the United States (US) are concerned about Beijing’s Moscow assistance from China to Russia to avoid possible military aid or Western sanctions.
Already on Friday, US President Joe Biden warned Chinese President Xi Jinping of China’s “consequences” for aiding Russia.
Speaking at a Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, northern England, on Saturday, when Ukraine’s ambassador to London Vadim Pristiko attended, Boris Johnson said it was time to “choose between freedom and oppression.”