China called on Russia and Ukraine to hold peace talks and rejected any recourse to nuclear weapons, in a 12-point document released on Friday, a year after the start of the conflict. “All parties should support Russia and Ukraine to work in the same direction and resume direct dialogue as soon as possible” for a “peaceful solution”, said the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Nuclear weapons must not be used”
Titled “China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis”, the document was published Friday morning on the ministry’s website, on the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. 2022. China has been seeking for a few weeks to play a mediating role in the Ukrainian conflict, and has been promising for several days to publish its position with a view to finding a political solution. In the document unveiled on Friday, Beijing clearly opposes any use of nuclear weapons, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has brandished this threat. “Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear war must not be waged. The threat or use of nuclear weapons must be opposed,” the document states.
China also urges both countries to avoid any attacks on civilians. “The parties (involved) in the conflict must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian buildings,” said the ministry.
A particular responsibility to assume
On CNN, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan reacted to the Chinese document by saying that it “could have stopped at the first point, respect for the sovereignty of all nations”. “The war could end tomorrow if Russia stops attacking Ukraine and withdraws its forces,” he added. The European Union (EU), through its ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo, has indicated that it will “study” the Chinese document published on Friday. “There is no mention of an aggressor (in this text), which is a bit strange because it is clear that there is an aggressor”, however lamented Jorge Toledo during a point press in Beijing.
“Our message to China”, as a permanent member of the Security Council, “is that it has a particular responsibility to fulfill, to ensure that the principles, values and objectives of the United Nations, in particular in matters of war and peace, be respected.” This war is a delicate matter for Beijing, because of its strong diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow, consolidated by the common interest of counterbalancing Washington.
Western pressure
Officially neutral, China calls for respecting the sovereignty of states, including Ukraine, while urging Europeans to take into account Moscow’s security concerns. But Western pressure is growing on Beijing, which has never publicly supported or criticized the Russian offensive, while repeatedly expressing its support for Moscow in the face of Western sanctions.
“China should do everything in its power to end the war, restore peace in Ukraine and induce Russia to withdraw its troops,” said Zhanna Leshchynska, the current charge d’affaires (the main responsible) of the Embassy of Ukraine in China. “China should talk to both sides, Russia and Ukraine. Because currently we see that the Chinese side is mostly talking to Russia, but not with Ukraine.”
Production of kamikaze attack drones
The German daily Der Spiegel reveals that the Chinese regime is considering the large-scale production of kamikaze attack drones for Russia. In recent days, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern that China is considering supplying arms to Russia, allegations strongly denied by Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Moscow on Wednesday, where he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, without having seen the document, on Thursday welcomed the involvement of this close partner of Moscow. “We would like to have a meeting with China. It is in Ukraine’s interest today,” Volodymyr Zelensky said. “That China is starting to talk about Ukraine and sending some signals is a very positive point.”