Bristling in opposition to U.S. claims that Beijing could also be poised to ship “deadly help” to assist Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, China accused the Biden administration on Monday of spreading lies and defended China’s shut partnership with Russia.

The remarks, by a spokesman from the Chinese language Ministry of Overseas Affairs, have been a part of a collection of diplomatic strikes as China’s chief, Xi Jinping, tries to protect ties with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia whereas casting Beijing as a innocent onlooker in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, attempting solely to coax Moscow and Kyiv to peace talks.

On the weekend, the U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, indicated that he had proof that, behind the scenes, Beijing was tilting towards stronger help for Mr. Putin and “contemplating offering deadly help to Russia in its aggression in opposition to Ukraine.” That step would mark a serious shift for China, which has defended its broader financial, power and political ties with Moscow, however not provided it with weapons, ammunition or different battlefield tools for the invasion. Mr. Blinken mentioned he had warned his Chinese language counterpart that there can be critical penalties have been that to happen.

Requested in regards to the accusations from Mr. Blinken and different U.S. officers, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese language Ministry of Overseas Affairs, recommended that, quite the opposite, it was america that was stoking bloodshed in Ukraine.

“It’s the U.S., and never China, that has been incessantly supplying weapons to the battlefield, and the U.S. will not be certified to problem any orders to China,” Mr. Wang instructed an everyday information convention in Beijing. Washington, Mr. Wang added, ought to “cease shirking accountability and disseminating pretend information. China will proceed firmly standing on the facet of dialogue and the facet of peace.”

Even in the course of the information convention, Mr. Wang was requested about experiences that Wang Yi — China’s most senior international coverage official — was about to reach in Moscow after delivering a speech on the Munich Safety Convention, the place he held talks with Mr. Blinken and gave a speech defending China’s straddling place on Russia and the conflict in Ukraine.

“We’re deeply involved by the expanded and prolonged disaster,” Mr. Wang, the highest official, mentioned when requested in regards to the conflict throughout a question-and-answer session in Munich. He additionally recommended that america had an curiosity in perpetuating the combating in Ukraine.

“Some forces might not need to see peace talks to materialize,” Mr. Wang mentioned. “They don’t care in regards to the life and dying of the Ukrainians, nor the hurt to Europe. They might have strategic targets bigger than Ukraine itself.”

Amy Chang Chien contributed reporting.