On March 17, the Crimean parliament declared independence from Ukraine after 96.77 percent of Crimeans voted in favor of rejoining Russia in a referendum held on the previous.

Crimea, home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet and historically part of the Russian Federation, was transferred in May 1954 to Ukraine, then a republic of the Soviet Union.

But the United States and European Union have rejected the referendum, and announced sanctions against Russia. Defying the condemnation by the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty with leaders of Crimea on March 18 to include the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol into Russian territory.

China wants a political resolution to the Crimean issue - and the Ukrainian crisis - under the framework of international law, and urges all parties involved to exercise restraint.