Help from the East: Experts suspect that China could help Russia to better endure the consequences of the economic sanctions.
(Photo: AP)
Beijing China maintains its support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Asked whether China condemned Russia’s invasion, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry initially evaded a news conference on Thursday, saying the word “invasion” was being used in a biased manner. Even when asked, she did not want to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as such.
After a phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said the ministers “expressed their common belief that the root of the current crisis is the refusal encouraged by the US and its allies.” Kyiv’s goal is to implement the Minsk package of measures approved by the UN Security Council.”
The People’s Republic understands Russia’s security concerns, Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured his ministry. However, China calls for the creation of a balanced, effective and sustainable security mechanism in Europe through dialogue and negotiations.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry deliberately avoided calling the escalation a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. “All I can tell you,” the spokeswoman said, “is that China is closely following the latest developments. We also call on all parties to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.”
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Beijing is thereby siding with Moscow, while at the same time avoiding an overly clear positioning. Because if it sides too strongly with Russia, it risks deteriorating relations with Europe and the US. Beijing also has geopolitical and economic interests in Ukraine. And China wants to be seen internationally as a country that stays out of international conflicts.
The clearest sign of support so far was the joint statement at the meeting between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping earlier this month.
“China has had a very clear position in the Ukraine conflict since February 4 and it is on Russia’s side,” says Janka Oertel, head of the Asia program of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) of the Handelsblatt. “Collaborating with Russia is currently in China’s interest, and further escalation in Ukraine will not change that for the time being.”
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During the talks between Putin and Xi at the beginning of February, numerous economic agreements were also concluded – a first preparation for cushioning the sanctions that are now being imposed by the USA and the EU. The Chinese Foreign Ministry had already condemned sanctions against Russia.
On Thursday, Beijing stressed that Russia’s decisions are independent. “I believe that the Russian side will be very unhappy that the US side is suggesting that Russia had China’s backing before acting,” a ministry spokeswoman said. Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and an independent power. The Russian side will determine and implement its own diplomacy and strategy independently and autonomously, based on its own judgment and national interests.
Experts suspect that China will support Russia in cushioning the new sanctions. So it could help with the financial sanctions against Moscow with its state-owned banks. In addition to the economic agreements that have already been concluded, further ones could be concluded in order to support the Russian economy.
“In secret, China will definitely help Russia”
Chinese state media reported Thursday that Chinese customs now accept all Russian wheat imports as long as the wheat is grown in areas free from a specific disease and used only for processing purposes.
Unlike at the beginning of the month, China has always avoided taking a too clear position on Russia’s side in the past few days and has appealed to both sides of the conflict. “We believe that the door to a peaceful solution to the Ukraine issue is not fully closed,” Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said at a late-breaking emergency UN Security Council meeting in New York.
“China will continue to try as far as possible to remain neutral in public statements,” believes Asia expert Oertel. There will also be no completely open joint strategy as to how Russia can use China to circumvent European and American sanctions. “In secret, however, China will definitely help, for example to circumvent the financial sanctions,” she said. “Now China is just waiting.”
On Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Ukraine urged Chinese citizens in the country to stay at home and away from windows. The advice was that anyone who has to travel by car should attach a Chinese flag to their vehicle.
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