White House Advises China To Isolate Russia

The White House displayed an ineffectual and rather pathetic nervousness yesterday over the bilateral meeting of China’s Xi Jinping with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Spokesman John Kirby told CNN: “Our message to China has been consistent: this is not the time for any kind of business as usual with Putin.” Failing to condemn Russia is leaving China “isolated from the rest of the international community which has largely condemned what he has done in Ukraine.” While the U.S. recognizes that China has refrained from providing military aid to Russia, China can’t be neutral. Washington wants China to pick its side on Ukraine. “We don’t think that this is the time for anybody to be on the sidelines. The whole world should be lined up against what Mr. Putin is doing.”