China has claimed to be impartial within the battle, however it has a “no limits” relationship with Russia and has refused to criticise its invasion of Ukraine over even consult with it as such, whereas accusing the West of upsetting the battle and “fanning the flames” by providing Ukraine with defensive arms.
China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to oppose the US-led liberal international order.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the strength of those ties when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow this week.
China has also been accused by the US of possibly preparing to provide Russia with military aid, something Beijing says lacks evidence.
Given China’s positions, that throws doubt on whether its 12-point proposal has any hope of going ahead – or whether China is seen as an honest broker.
Before the proposal was released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it an important first step.
“I think that, in general, the fact that China started talking about peace in Ukraine, I think that it is not bad. It is important for us that all states are on our side, on the side of justice,” he mentioned at a news convention on Friday with Spain’s prime minister.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday that the United States would reserve judgment but that China’s allegiance with Russia meant it was not a neutral mediator.
“We would like to see nothing more than a just and durable peace … but we are sceptical that reports of a proposal like this will be a constructive path forward,” he said.
Price added that the US hopes “all countries that have a relationship with Russia unlike the one that we have will use that leverage, will use that influence to push Russia meaningfully and usefully to end this brutal war of aggression. (China) is in a position to do that in ways that we just aren’t”.
The peace proposal mainly elaborated on long-held Chinese positions, including referring to the need that all countries’ “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity be effectively guaranteed”.
It also called an end to the “Cold War mentality” – its standard term for what it regards as US hegemony and interference in other countries.
“A country’s security cannot be at the expense of other countries’ security, and regional security cannot be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs,” the proposal mentioned.
“The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries should be taken seriously and properly addressed.”
China abstained on Thursday when the UN General Assembly authorized a nonbinding decision that requires Russia to finish hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces. It is one among 16 nations that both voted in opposition to or abstained on nearly all 5 earlier resolutions on Ukraine.
The photos that outlined Russia’s invasion of Ukraine throughout its first yr
The decision, drafted by Ukraine in session with its allies, handed 141-7 with 32 abstentions, sending a robust message on the eve of the primary anniversary of the invasion that seems to depart Russia extra remoted than ever.
While China has not been brazenly important of Moscow, it has mentioned that the current battle is “not something it wishes to see”, and has repeatedly mentioned any use of nuclear weapons could be utterly unacceptable, in an implied repudiation of Putin’s assertion that Russia would use “all available means” to guard its territory.
“There are not any winners in battle wars,” the proposal said.
“All events ought to preserve rationality and restraint … help Russia and Ukraine to satisfy one another, resume direct dialogue as quickly as potential, steadily promote the de-escalation and leisure of the scenario, and at last attain a complete ceasefire,” it mentioned.
Source: www.9news.com.au
