China denies involvement after capture of its Nationals fighting in Ukraine

China has dismissed what it described as “political manipulation and hype” following reports that two of its nationals were captured while fighting in Ukraine alongside Russian forces.

The reaction came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of dragging Beijing into its ongoing invasion.

Responding to questions on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China is still verifying the information surrounding the captured individuals.

He urged all parties to “accurately understand China’s objective and impartial stance, and to refrain from political manipulation and hype.”

The controversy erupted after Ukraine held a press conference on Monday where the captured Chinese prisoners of war, surrounded by armed guards, expressed hope for a future exchange and advised other Chinese citizens against joining the war.

Last week, President Zelensky claimed that several hundred Chinese nationals were fighting on the frontlines for Russia, a claim that raised further concerns about Beijing’s true position in the war.

In response, China reiterated on Tuesday that it had “repeatedly issued safety advisories, urging Chinese citizens to stay away from areas of armed conflict and to avoid becoming involved in conflict in any form.”

Spokesman Lin Jian added, “With regard to the individual actions and consular cases involving Chinese citizens overseas, China handles them in accordance with the law.”

Though Beijing maintains that it is a neutral party in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and insists it has not supplied lethal aid to either side, its political and economic ties with Moscow have led Western allies to question that neutrality.

NATO has labelled China a “decisive enabler” of the war, pointing to its refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion.

The latest developments further complicate China’s efforts to appear neutral while maintaining strong relations with Russia in the face of growing international scrutiny.