China opposes claims of "prior knowledge" of Russian attack on Ukraine

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's ministry of defence said on Thursday it was completely false to say that China had "prior knowledge" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that such claims were a smear.

The ministry comment came in response to foreign media reports which said China ignored warnings by the United States that Russia would attack Ukraine.

China strongly disagrees and opposes these claims, which the United States made to "shirk responsibility and smear China", the defence ministry said in a statement.

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian, Twinnie Siu and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Catherine Evans)

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