As the Ukraine crisis continues, the US has been intensifying its "black or white" narratives in its war of words against China, trying to inflict heavy losses on China within international public opinion by using the trap of binary opposition. By any means, this vicious intent of the US, which holds no moral ground amid Ukraine crisis, wont deliver.

A statement by US Department of State on Monday claimed that Chinas "uncritical amplification of Moscows messaging demonstrates Beijings support for Russia." The statement targeted Chinas media, social media and diplomats, saying, "This amplification rationalizes President Putins unjustified and unprovoked war against Ukraine while undermining trust in the United States and other countries, democratic institutions, and independent media."

On the same day, Michael Carpenter, the US ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said during a press briefing, "I dont think we have any indications at the current time that China is endeavoring to help Russia with its military campaign in Ukraine."

The two US official remarks may seem contradictory, according to Xu Liang, an associate professor at the School of International Relations of Beijing International Studies University, but they are actually the reflection of US dual policies on China. They are intended to draw a "red line" for China and put a ceiling in China-Russia cooperation.

"Washingtons goal is to affect Beijings autonomy in its policies toward Moscow, in a bid to maximize US attacks against Russia, while pushing China into a corner in both a moral and economic sense. This goes against Chinas strategic independence and autonomy and obviously wont succeed," Xu noted.

Lü Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that Washingtons accusation without bottom line against China is undoubtedly a practice of a thief yelling "Catch the thief!" The essence of Russia-Ukraine conflict is Russia-US conflict, in which the US has publicly supported Ukraine with various military aids. Meanwhile, the US support also comes in the form of information warfare.

The US trick of thief yelling "Catch the thief!" in current situation reveals the US mentality of fear and wariness. Xu said the US wants to use this trick to make China take a bystander approach and make sure Russia wont get substantial support from China.

The US has been manipulating the issue of "China supports Russia" with "black or white" narrative, constantly implying that China is responsible for the escalation of the situation. As a matter of fact, Chinas overall position is that it does not want to see the escalation of the Ukraine crisis. It is ridiculous for the US to blame China while the international community doesnt see any US effort to de-escalate the situation, Lü said.

The US narrative will only further harm the strategic mutual trust between China and the US and the two countries cooperation in the international community. Such moves by the US also do no good to ease the Ukraine crisis.

If the US continues to blame China on these issues, it will only lose its influence in global public opinion, Lü noted, saying, "Now we see that despite the influence of Western media, most countries do not stand with the US and NATO."

Washington is the "special responsible party" for the Ukraine crisis, and the US-led NATO holds tight the key to its solution. It is time to stop US public opinion war in the troubled situation, as the opinion war does not serve any purpose other than to encourage new confrontations. Washington, which has tasted blood in the Ukraine crisis, has an urge to take this approach global. Indulging in extreme geopolitical games, the US is increasingly becoming the origin of chaos and war - this should be watched and guarded against by all.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn