So far, China has always emphasized Russia’s “legitimate security interests” on questions about the Ukraine war.
(Photo: dpa)
Beijing Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has asked China to use its influence on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The governments in Beijing and Berlin also agree that Russian threats with nuclear weapons are unacceptable, Scholz said on Friday during his inaugural visit to Beijing at a meeting with Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
He had previously met head of state and party leader Xi Jinping. Questions from journalists were not allowed. The one-day state visit together with business representatives had been widely criticized in advance.
“President Xi and I agree: nuclear threats are irresponsible and extremely dangerous. With the use of nuclear weapons, Russia would cross a line drawn jointly by the international community,” said Scholz. The Chancellor described China as a “big country”.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the People’s Republic also has responsibility for peace in the world. “I have told President Xi that it is important for China to exercise its influence over Russia.”
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According to Prime Minister Li Keqiang, China and Germany hope that the war in Ukraine will end “quickly”. “We cannot afford any further escalation,” said Li Keqiang. Both sides should be persuaded to engage in peace talks.
Is China changing its position on Russia?
With the concern expressed, Li Keqiang went beyond previous statements by the Chinese side. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, Beijing has mostly backed Russian President Vladimir Putin and blamed the United States and NATO for the conflict.
According to the head of government, China hopes, together with Germany, that the war in Ukraine will end “quickly”.
(Photo: dpa)
So far, statements have mostly only generally emphasized the need to preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, China’s leadership has always emphasized that the legitimate security interests of all sides must be taken into account, which particularly referred to Russia.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor rejected criticism of his trip. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought war back to Europe,” he said.
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In times of crisis, discussions are even more important. He began his statement by saying, “It is good and right that I am here in Beijing today.”
Scholz warns China against attack on Taiwan
At the same time, Scholz warned against military intervention in Taiwan. In Beijing he reiterated that Germany was pursuing a “One China Policy”. But that also means that any changes to the status quo should only be made peacefully and by mutual consent.
Scholz warned China against intervening in Taiwan, but emphasized that it did not want to interfere in Chinese affairs.
(Photo: dpa)
During his first visit to China, Scholz was reacting to repeated threats from Beijing that he wanted to take the island’s democratic republic militarily if the Taiwanese opposed peaceful “unification”.
The communist leadership regards the island as part of the People’s Republic. Taiwan, on the other hand, has long seen itself as independent.
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The Chancellor also underlined that human rights are “universal”, which is also recognized by all members of the United Nations. In his talks, he recalled the obligation to protect and implement human rights. He also expressly warned them with a view to the north-west Chinese region of Xinjiang, where, according to the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Muslim minorities are being persecuted.
This is “not interference in internal affairs,” said the chancellor, referring to the usual Chinese response on the matter. Both sides wanted to keep the conversation going.
According to human rights activists, hundreds of thousands of members of minorities, especially Uyghurs, have been sent to re-education camps in Xinjiang. China’s head of government had previously referred to cultural differences and different views between Germany and China, which could not be avoided.
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