China joined Russia to oppose using “war” to describe Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in a joint communique at the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia, attempting to undercut an effort by the United States and allies to condemn the conflict in the strongest terms possible.The final communique is expected to include “war,” although it is likely to note that some countries hold differing views on the conflict and its global impact — the language required to seal the deal on the communique.In President Xi Jinping’s first overseas visit since securing a third term — and only his second trip abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic — the Chinese leader has sought to defuse tensions with the United States and allies over the Ukraine war, which Beijing has refrained from condemning.Xi’s rejection of the threat or use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing last week was seen by some in Europe as a sign that he was losing patience with Russia after nearly nine months of fighting and Moscow’s occasional veiled threats to use such arms.China is cautious about using the word “war” out of sympathy with Russia’s position and dislikes seeing the United States strengthen its alliances in response to the conflict, said Ren Xiao, a professor of international relations at Fudan University in Shanghai."