Xi Jinping's Government Throws Weight Behind Putin Amid Wagner Mutiny: 'Internal Matter'

On Sunday, China declared the recent rebellion by the Russian mercenary force, Wagner Group, as an “internal affair” and expressed support for the Kremlin’s efforts to maintain national stability. This comes after a tumultuous week marked by the Wagner Group’s attempted march on Moscow, which was abruptly halted on Saturday.

What Happened: China’s stance on the recent upheaval in Russia was clarified in a statement by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, CNBC reports.

The spokesperson stated, “This is Russia’s internal affair. As Russia’s friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination for the new era, China supports Russia in maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity.”

The statement followed a meeting between China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.

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Why It Matters:

The Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, had accused Russia’s defense ministry of deliberately bombing Wagner fighters and claimed that Moscow’s justification for invading Ukraine was based on lies.

The group had taken control of the strategic Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advanced to within 200 kilometers from Moscow. However, less than 24 hours later, Prigozhin announced his fighters would turn back and halt their advance toward the capital.

The recent events in Russia have raised questions about the stability of Vladimir Putin‘s regime and drawn international attention and concern.

China’s statement of support for Russia suggests that it is not providing direct military support to Russia, according to Ian Bremmer, president and founder of global political risk research and consulting firm Eurasia Group. This stance aligns with that of the United States and NATO, who have also described the situation as a Russian internal matter.

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