China closes legislative session amid Ukraine, virus worries

BEIJING (AP) — China is wrapping up the annual session of its rubber-stamp legislature against the backdrop of Beijing’s controversial position on the war in Ukraine and a COVID-19 surge.

Almost all legislative work is handled not by the 3,000-member National People’s Congress but by its much smaller Standing Committee. Still, the weeklong session that ends Friday was a sounding board for some issues of public concern — this year including the trafficking of women and children — and a platform for the Communist leadership to broadcast their priorities.

Premier Li Keqiang set an ambitious goal of 5.5% economic growth for the year, while the defense budget received a 7.1% boost.

Russia's war in Ukraine was not openly discussed at the meeting, but China has largely backed Russia and Chinese officials and state media have parroted Russian talking points while claiming to be neutral and defending national sovereignty above all else. It has echoes in Beijing's approach to Taiwan — the self-governing island democracy China claims as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary.

A spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army's NPC delegation this week blamed “separatist activities and collusion with external forces" for tensions with Taiwan and said the more the "United States and Japan make waves on the Taiwan question, the tougher actions we will take."

The White House and U.S. State Department this week accused Beijing of aiding Russian disinformation efforts, including false claims over U.S. biological weapons labs and chemical weapons development in Ukraine.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday said China “urges the U.S. to disclose details on U.S.-financed biological labs in Ukraine, including types of viruses stored and research has been...