China’s foreign affairs hammers NATO, says weaponizing globalization to sanction Russia has consequences

China’s Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng on Saturday blamed Western countries “weaponizing” globalization in dealing with Russia.

According to him,  sanctions imposed against Russia are getting “more and more outrageous”, and that the “abuse” of sanctions will have “disastrous consequences” for the world.

“Sanctions will only harm ordinary people, impact the post-war economic and financial system, and make the world economy worse,” Le said at the International Forum on Strategy and Security held by Tsinghua University.
He added that “historical experience has proven time and again that sanctions cannot solve problems.”

Le traced the “root” of Ukraine’s conflict is “Cold War mentality and power politics” and blamed NATO for “going back” on a purported “promise” to not expand eastward.

NATO should have disbanded and been “consigned to history” with the Warsaw Pact, he said.

“NATO continues to strengthen and expand. One can imagine the result of this, the Ukraine crisis is a warning,” Le added.