Several days ago reports had surfaced to the effect that Russia had requested military assistance from China. That in and of itself sounds a bit comical, even if in a sad way - an alleged second military force in the world that had set out to subdue a country which was viewed as a military non-entity (Ukraine) not only did no succeed within a few days, but also found itself needing help within a few weeks. The content of assistance that Russia allegedly requested is a bit murky but some sources say they requested supplies for equipment maintenance and even MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) for the troops.
Whatever it was, the response from China seems tepid. They are saying, basically, that they would like to see the war ended and, while not assuming a responsibility to abstain from assisting Russia, clearly they seem in no rush to take Russia's side. This seems like a classical refusal to side with a losing party.
One also wonders if this may be an attempt on China's part to find the side to join in what appears to be a global conflict that is most to their advantage. Also, it remains to be seen if they are also trying to contain the fallout resulting from more and more facts being uncovered about their role in the COVID pandemic. This is certainly a development to watch in the coming days, weeks and months.
References
Russia has asked China for military help in Ukraine, US officials say
Demetri Sevastopulo, Financial Times, 14 March 2022
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