China opposes claims of 'prior knowledge' of Russian attack on Ukraine

The comment came in response to foreign media reports

HONG KONG:

China's ministry of defence said on Thursday it was completely false to say that China had "prior knowledge" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that such claims were a smear.

The ministry comment came in response to foreign media reports which said China ignored warnings by the United States that Russia would attack Ukraine.

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China strongly disagrees and opposes these claims, which the United States made to "shirk responsibility and smear China", the defence ministry said in a statement.