EXPLAINER: Can war massacres sway China’s support of Russia?

BEIJING (AP) — China has called reports of civilian killings in Ukraine disturbing and urged further investigation, even while declining to blame Russia. That’s prompted questions about the resiliency of Beijing’s support for Moscow, but speculation that it is weakening appears to be misplaced. Beijing early on committed itself to the position that Russia was provoked into attacking its neighbor by the actions of the U.S. and NATO. That view had become entrenched through China’s public pronouncements, pro-Russian reporting in state media and even instructions to students about how to correctly view the conflict. At the same time, China shows no signs of undermining economic sanctions against Russia despite its strong opposition.