INTERNATIONAL: The Chinese foreign ministry has announced on Thursday ,March 17, that it firmly rejects U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken's comment that China's unwillingness to condemn Russia is inconsistent with China's position on the U.N. charter.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian says at a regular press conference that China has noticed that when U.S. Secretary of State Blinken made such a statement, he falsely claimed that China was on the wrong side of history, such remarks are not helpful for solving the problem, and China firmly opposes it.

Zhao has added that China always believes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states should be upheld.

In an interview with U.S. nonprofit radio network NPR on Wednesday ,March 16, Blinken has said, the fact that China "has not stood strongly against" Russia's aggression in Ukraine flies in the face of China's commitments as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council responsible for maintaining peace and security.