Xi knew.
Let’s proceed with caution, seeing as we’re talking about the New York Times, here; we’re talking “anonymous sources” and “intelligence reports.” But two things are true that we can prove without a newsroom of investigative reporters and clandestine parking garage meetups.
First, China denies it —which immediately ups the odds that it’s true. Throw it on the pile with the Uyghurs, Peng Shuai and Wuhan. Second, the Olympics ended February 20th and Putin ordered his troops to enter eastern Ukraine the very next day.
So, Xi knew.
Liu Pengyu, the Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington, said, “These claims are speculation without any basis, and are intended to blame-shift and smear China.”
Speculation, maybe. Without any basis? No.
According to the New York Times, Putin met with Xi Jinping in Beijing on Feb. 4 before the opening ceremony of the Olympics. “Moscow and Beijing issued a 5,000-word statement at the time declaring that their partnership had ‘no limits,’ denouncing NATO enlargement and asserting that they would establish a new global order with true ‘democracy.’”
Meanwhile, the Biden Admin was gabbing to the Chinese about the Russians.
“Americans presented intelligence showing Russia’s troop buildup around Ukraine and beseeched the Chinese to tell Russia not to invade, according to U.S. officials. Each time, the Chinese officials, including the foreign minister and the ambassador to the United States, rebuffed the Americans, saying they did not think an invasion was in the works.”
China and Russia are bosom buddies now. China even abstained from the vote to condemn Russia in an historic resolution passed by the UN. They’re also not enforcing any sanctions.
“American and European officials have said they find it hard to believe it is mere coincidence that Mr. Putin’s invasion did not start until right after the Olympics. In August 2008, Russia invaded Georgia during the Summer Olympics in Beijing, which upset some Chinese officials.”
Uh, yeah. Putin is cold and calculating. A get-together with Xi; a 5,000 word statement saying “we’re best buds”; and a history of getting that invading itch right around Olympics time?
Of course, Xi knew.
