China Warns West Not To Enforce Sanctions Against Russia

"Sanctions could lead to retaliatory action, and that would trigger a spiral with unforeseeable consequences," warns China's envoy to Germany adding that "we don't see any point in sanctions." On the heels of Merkel's warning that Russia risked "massive" political and economic damage if it did not change course, Reuters reports ambassador Shi Mingde urged patience saying "the door is still open" for diplomacy (though we suspect it is not) ahead of this weekend's referendum. Russia's Deputy Economy Minister Alexei Likhachev responded by promising "symmetrical" sanctions by Moscow. So now we have China joining the fray more aggressively.

Via Reuters,

China's top envoy to Germany has warned the West against punishing Russia with sanctions for its intervention in Ukraine, saying such measures could lead to a dangerous chain reaction that would be difficult to control. In an interview with Reuters days before the European Union is threatening to impose its first sanctions on Russia since the Cold War, ambassador Shi Mingde issued the strongest warning against such measures by any top Chinese official to date.

"We don't see any point in sanctions," Shi said. "Sanctions could lead to retaliatory action, and that would trigger a spiral with unforeseeable consequences. We don't want this."

...

Using her [Merkel's] toughest rhetoric since the crisis began, she warned in a speech in parliament on Thursday that Russia risked "massive" political and economic damage if it did not change course in the coming days.

Russia's Deputy Economy Minister Alexei Likhachev responded by promising "symmetrical" sanctions by Moscow. But Shi urged patience, saying the door for talks should remain open even after a referendum on Sunday in which Ukraine's southern region of Crimea could vote to secede and join Russia. Merkel and other western leaders have denounced the referendum as illegal and demanded that it be canceled.

"We still see a chance to avoid an escalation. The door to talks is still open. We should use this possibility, also after the referendum," Shi said.

After the Referendum, so when Russia is already in control. More importantly, China joins the fray with threats over West's sanctions. Perhaps BTFWWIIID will make a re-appearance any minute now.

Comments

[Seer]

OPEC just announced a reduction of their production output.

I think that eventually the world will get it that fossil fuels are a rapdily depleting resource.  Producers are wanting to ensure that they don't give it away: perfect business sense.

Economies of scale in reverse, however, are going to bring things to a head much sooner than most think. (also, it's an issue of net exports rather than net production [internal consumption always rises, which means less for exports- not a good thing for energy-dependent countries]).

[MeelionDollerBogus]

Preposterous!
Everyone knows we can print moar oil wells and if we run out of farm land we'll print another continent too.
Right?
... oh wait... we should be looking for answers that don't involve LSD?
ruh roh, raggy.

[den_by]

China has a huge surplus of young men who need to do something. War is on of those things. 

[den_by]

China has a huge surplus of young men who need to do something. War is on of those things. 

[Gaurden]

Just press the button already so those of us who survive can start rounding up all the lawyers, bankers, politicians and oligarchs.

[smacker]

It's difficult to see where Merkel is coming from on this farce.

Does she really believe that the EU would have more control over Russian gas supplies to the EU if Ukraine was annexed to the West?

If so, she's mad.

[kurt]

Yellow journalism moves the "mark" (you) toward war by a combination of playground tactics,

"Hey, he said you are an asshole"

-and- taking advantage of pre-existing penchants, sports,

"There's gonna be a rumble, garsh, my money is on the Putineers they have a better offensive line."

Finally, throw in a dash of armchair generalisimo,

"Oh, they'll fold under the vast technical superiority of Blabistan with its Pluu2000 weaponsystem."