China has said it will not sell weapons to Russia amid Western fears it was considering providing military assistance to Moscow.
The country’s foreign minister Qin Gang confirmed on Friday Beijing will not sell weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine.
Beijing has backed Russia politically and rhetorically over the invasion, while formally saying it remains neutral.
It sparked concerns from the US and others that China was considering providing military assistance to Russia. President Xi Jinping had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin for talks last month.
But speaking at a news conference with his visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Mr Qin said: “Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude.
“China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations."
The minister also reiterated China's willingness to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
At the same news conference, Mr Qin also blamed Taiwan's government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory.
In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia - and warned that such involvement in the Kremlin's war effort would be a "serious problem."
In recent days, European leaders have issued similar warnings, even as they visited China, and the European Union's foreign policy chief lashed out at Beijing, saying its support of Russia during the invasion was "a blatant violation" of its United Nations commitments.
In her remarks, Baerbock also referred to China's role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, saying it bore a special responsibility for helping end the conflict.
"But I have to wonder why the Chinese positioning so far does not include a call for the aggressor, Russia, to stop the war," she said.
"We all know that President (Vladimir) Putin would have the opportunity to do so at any time, and the people in Ukraine would like nothing more than to finally be able to live in peace again."
China announced on Friday that Defence Minister General Li Shangfu would visit Russia next week for meetings with counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials.
On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Mr Qin articulated well-worn defences of Chinese policies that underscore Beijing's rejection of criticisms from the West, particularly the U.S.
Under the ardently nationalist Presdent Xi, China has sharpened its rhetoric, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, which split from mainland China amid civil war in 1949.
Tensions around the island rose significantly after China deployed warships and fighter planes near Taiwan last weekend in retaliation for a meeting between US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen.
China insists that self-governing Taiwan submit to its rule, either peacefully or by force, and Qin said the pursuit of independence by Taiwan's government and its foreign supporters - a veiled reference to chief ally the United States - were the reason for the tensions.
Ms Baerbock warned that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, through which much of the world's international trade passes, would bring global disaster.
"We therefore view the increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait with great concern," she said. "Conflicts must be resolved peacefully."
Apparently rejecting Baerbock's concerns, Mr Qin said Taiwan was "China's internal affair and bore no outside interference."
"Taiwan independence and peace can not co-exist," he said.
