The Chinese embassy in Kiev has asked its compatriots to attach a Chinese flag to their vehicles when driving longer distances in the country.
(Photo: AP)
The Russian invasion of Ukraine puts the Chinese government under pressure. In official statements and state media, the term invasion was avoided, as was criticism of Vladimir Putin.
But a bloody war in Europe, instigated by Russia, which Beijing does not expressly condemn, is likely to further harden the position of many European capitals towards the People’s Republic. This is all the more true if China helps Russia cushion the impact of Western sanctions.
In addition, China also has a strategic interest in Ukraine. The former granary of the Soviet Union is now an important supplier of agricultural products and iron ore. China was recently the largest buyer of Ukrainian barley. A third of Chinese corn imports last year also came from Ukraine, Chinese customs data showed.
Grain deliveries from the Eastern European country make the People’s Republic less dependent on imports from the United States, which has long been China’s most important grain supplier.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
Chinese state-owned agribusiness COFCO has invested $50 million in Mariupol to triple its agricultural produce handling capacity. The city is on the front lines in Donetsk province, which has been under siege by pro-Russian separatists since 2014 and is now under heavy shelling.
More wheat imports now from Russia – despite pesticide pollution
China’s state media downplayed the risks to China’s security of supply and any impact the conflict might have on food prices. On Thursday, just a few hours after Russia’s first strike against Ukraine, China’s customs administration announced that it would import more wheat from Russia and lower previous restrictions due to the high level of pesticides. In doing so, China primarily wants to secure its own supply, believes Mikko Huotari, director of the China think tank Merics. But it could also be seen as a signal of support for Russia.
>> Also read: The Alliance of Autocrats: Putin and Xi are moving even closer together
Despite the close partnership, China seems to be quite surprised by Russia’s massive action. Because officials and state media only seemed to settle on a language rule during the course of Friday. In addition, the Chinese embassy in Kiev only started organizing evacuation flights for compatriots on Friday, citing the sharply deteriorated security situation, without mentioning the Russian invasion. She had previously advised her compatriots to stay away from windows and to attach a Chinese flag to their vehicles on long journeys.
Putin and Xi Jinping then spoke on the phone this Friday, according to the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The Kremlin chief told Xi he was ready for high-level talks with Ukraine. Xi has promised Putin his support in solving the Ukraine crisis through dialogue.
Ukraine has been a member of China’s Belt and Road (BRI) Silk Road Initiative since 2017. In addition to COFCO, the state construction companies China Pacific Construction and China Harbor Engineering, the energy group China Longyuan Power and the telecommunications supplier Huawei are also active in Ukraine. According to Reuters news agency, Huawei was also selected in 2020 to ensure and improve cyber defense and cyber security in Ukraine. In total, trade between the countries in 2021 amounted to almost $19 billion.
The Chinese do not only obtain May from their own country. It is also an important import product from Ukraine.
(Photo: dpa)
In the past, Ukraine had also supplied China with armaments. After the EU imposed an arms embargo in response to the Tiananmen massacre, China found a supplier of military technology and equipment for the navy, air force and space industries in the former Soviet republic. In 1998 it sold China the aircraft carrier Varyag, whose modernized variant is now used by the People’s Liberation Army under the name Liaoning. The amphibious, air-suspended landing craft of the Bison type also come from the Ukraine. They are needed for island landing operations in the East and South China Seas.
Beijing did not condemn the annexation of Crimea
The technical basis for gas turbine engines, which China uses to power the Type 055 guided missile destroyer, also comes from Ukraine. The attempt by the Chinese company Skyrizon to secure the technology of the Ukrainian aircraft engine manufacturer Motor Sich failed in 2021 due to US intervention. They accused Skyrizon of ties to the People’s Liberation Army.
The company has actively sought to acquire intellectual property and technology to enhance key Chinese military capabilities that threaten US national security, including the ability to design, manufacture or maintain military equipment such as aircraft engines, satellites and cruise missiles.
With the growing threat to Ukraine from Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskiy has recently returned to closer ties with the United States and NATO members. Especially since China was one of the few countries not to sanction the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
On the contrary, Beijing and Moscow deepened their partnership. China has been Russia’s largest trading partner for years. Mutual trade reached a new high of nearly $150 billion last year. Last year, the two countries agreed on closer military ties and joint military exercises. At the end of January, Vladimir Putin traveled to Beijing at the invitation of Xi Jinping for the opening of the Winter Olympics and signed extensive bilateral agreements, including additional supplies of gas and agricultural products.
More: Beijing avoids the word “invasion” – as China supports Russia