Opinion | China knows the cause of Ukraine-Russia conflict too well: It must walk a diplomatic tightrope

By Augustus K. Yeung

Introduction

As a non-alliance nation, China has been the target of America's Aunt Polly, being bombarded in the areas of trade and diplomatic arena, using one fabricated issue one after another.

In contrast, China's relationship with Russia under President Putin has been business-like, for example, sending petroleum to China after the latter experienced fuel hardships in the last long winter.

Currently, the pre-emptive war between Ukraine and Russia has become a diplomatic dilemma for China, which understands that the latter has since the end of the Cold War been hard-pressed by the American's policy of eastward expansion, notably its anti-Russian military containment in Poland and Romania and later Ukraine.

Amid this dilemma, China is walking a diplomatic tightrope: It feels sorry for the war-torn Ukrainian civilians, but also angry at the Americans for its policy of hostility towards Russia. And America's meddling in Taiwan.

The following is an article by Chao Deng and Yoko Kubota, two Journal reporters transmitting information for their New York based newspaper organization.

U.S. and NATO Broke "Promise Not to Expand Eastward"

"China expressed support for Russia's interests in Ukraine and stopped short of calling the all-out offensive an invasion as it blamed Washington for fueling tensions with Moscow," report Chao Deng and Yoko Kubota for the Journal. ("China Walks Diplomatic Fine Line". THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. Friday, February 25, 2022)

In a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday, China Foreign Minister Wang Yi repeated China's position that it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, but added that Beijing could see "complicated and specific" historical questions at play in Ukraine, according to a readout published by state media in the Beijing evening…

Lavrov told Wang that Russia had been "forced to take necessary measures" to protect its own rights, after the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization broke a promise not to expand eastward, according to the readout.

China Understands Russia's Legitimate Concerns…

"China understands Russia's legitimate concerns on security issues," Wang responded.

The report of the call came after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying called for restraint from all parties during a daily news briefing in Beijing. "What we are seeing today is not what we wished to see," she said.

Ms. Hua also characterized the Ukraine situation as complex and put the blame primarily on the U.S., castigating Washington for shipping arms to Ukraine and for hyping up the possibility of war—a charge that the U.S. has denied.

"Those who have set the fire should consider how to put it out with concrete actions, rather than condemning others," she said.

After Meeting, Xi and Putin Issued a Joint Statement…

Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine puts China in a difficult position. Chinese leader Xi Jinping maintains a close relationship with Putin. Russia and China have increased military collaboration in recent years, fueled by a shared suspicion of the U.S. But being seen as supporting Putin's aggression in Ukraine risks further antagonizing the U.S. and Europe, while also undermining Beijing's long-professed belief in the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Senior Chinese officials have attempted to tread a tightrope between those two imperatives.

In a phone call with U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken on Tuesday, Wang proclaimed a more neutral regard for the security concerns of all involved, including Ukraine. "The purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter must be upheld," he said at the time.

Earlier this month, Putin traveled to Beijing for a summit meeting with Xi timed for the start of the Winter Olympics, after which the two men released a joint statement criticizing the U.S.-led world order and the eastward expansion of NATO.

Leaders "Huddled Behind Closed Doors for Days…"

"Shortly after the meeting of Messrs. Xi and Putin, China's top leaders huddled behind closed doors for several days to discuss the Ukraine crisis, according to people familiar with the matter. Among other concerns, these people said, was the risk of financial and trade penalties imposed by Washington in response to any help that Beijing might extend to help Russia evade U.S sanctions."

Since then, Xi has said little publicly about the Ukraine situation, telling French President Emmanuel Macron in a Feb.16 phone call that all parties should resolve the Ukraine crisis through dialogue.

Zhang Jun, China's ambassador to the United Nations, has been similarly reticent, offering only brief remarks at an otherwise raucous emergency meeting the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.

"We hope that all parties concerned will stay coolheaded and rational," Zhang said.

In Taiwan, which has tightened its relationship with the U.S., officials have been far less ambiguous in their response to the developments in Eastern Europe, sympathizing with Ukraine in having to fend off an increasingly assertive authoritarian neighbor.

Conclusion

Taiwan's response to the Ukraine crisis is patronizing: It is on the side of America, hoping to curry favor; but the US is pretending to be its protector. Would Washington reliably answer Taiwan's SOS tomorrow, now that it's failing Ukraine today?

Yesterday, Joe Biden dispatched his diplomatic team to Taipei, telling Beijing not to assist Russia in any way. This is a conversation of gesture, in the language of Symbolic Interactionism (a sociological theory).

Knowing that Russia is being hard-pressed by the US and its European allies, and that Russia is forced to unilaterally respond to NATO's security threat, China understands. Unfortunately, its hands are tied.

 

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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