Chinese media outlet accidentally leaks directive to publish only pro-Russia, anti-West content on Ukraine invasion

Recently, Horizon News, a subset of Beijing News, which is owned by the Chinese Communist Party, posted what The Washington Post called "instructions" on Ukraine news coverage to its Weibo account on the Chinese microblogging site.

The message was later deleted but reportedly said that posts unfavorable to Russia or posts that are pro-Western content would not be published.

Chinese media outlets have described the growing crisis as "escalating under American provocation," according to The Washington Post.

According to Insider: "China has strengthened its alliance with Russia in recent years and the two countries have also become increasingly active economic partners. Trade between China and Russia has grown from $10.7 billion in 2004 to $140 billion by 2021, according to the Carnegie Moscow Center think tank."

"Simply put, China has to back Russia up with emotional and moral support while refraining from treading on the toes of the United States and European Union," Ming Jinwei, a senior editor at the Xinhua News Agency, wrote in a WeChat blog.

Xinhua is the official press agency of the Chinese government.

According to The Washington Post, Jinwei added that it doesn't hurt to be "moderately pro-Russian in words," because down the road, China may rely on its Russian allies for support on Taiwan.

"In the future, China will also need Russia’s understanding and support when wrestling with America to solve the Taiwan issue once and for all," he wrote.

In the US, President Biden announced on Tuesday that there would be sanctions against Russia as tensions along the Ukrainian western border skyrocket.