News Analysis China has made several official pronouncements over the last several days that suggest it is not backing away from its tacit support for Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. Facing increased condemnation from its “pro-Russia neutrality,” as some pundits have called it, Beijing has doubled down on its support for Moscow. More than this, it has deflected from the Western pressure to denounce the Kremlin’s Ukraine incursion by accusing the United States and NATO as responsible for forcing Russia’s hand. This has been a steady refrain from Beijing since the beginning of the conflict: verbal commitment to the principle of state sovereignty, while simultaneously empathizing with Russia for being forced into a security predicament by careless U.S. foreign policy. China was particularly incensed at recent statements by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about Beijing’s “obligation” to condemn Russia’s actions. The notion of a foreign power telling China that it …