By Simone McCarthy and CNN’s Beijing bureau

Updated 11:02 AM ET, Fri February 25, 2022

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/25/china/china-reaction-ukraine-russia-intl-hnk-mic/index.html

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(CNN)AsRussian missiles flewthrough the Ukrainian sky Thursday and world leaders decriedan invasionspreading across the country, China refused to condemn Russia’s move outright, while appearing to levy blame on the United States and its allies.

Beijing finds itself in a complex position as Russia’s invasion of its neighbor intensifies, needing to balance a close strategic partnership with Moscow with its seemingly contradictory policy of supporting state sovereignty.

A Chinese government official Thursday sidestepped questions over whether it would condemn Russia’s actions or consider it an “invasion.”

Instead, China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying — who repeated staid…