Opinion | Ukraine has fallen into the trap of US-led interventions: What should Beijing do?
By Augustus K. Yeung
Introduction
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is stepping into yet another agonizing week, and the Biden administration has been stepping up wide-spread economic and financial sanctions against Russia as well as urging NATO members to keep sending arms and aminations to Ukraine.
Apparently, this is like pouring petroleum into a burning furnace; the current crisis will only escalate. And civilian casualties are likely to keep rising. Under the circumstance, de-escalation is not likely to happen if the Biden administration keeps stubbornly fanning the fire.
Worst of all, Washington is pressuring Beijing to take part in the US-led world sanctions. After last Friday's virtual summit between President Biden and President Xi Jinping, Ukraine has now openly urged China to join the "sanction" party, which is tantamount to driving Russia to the road of no return to the negotiating table.
What should Beijing do?
China Urged International Community to Facilitate Talks…
"China urged the international community on Monday to facilitate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate the conflict between them and strive to avoid the occurrence of a massive humanitarian crisis in Ukraine." Reported Cao Desheng for China Daily. ("Nations urged to de-escalate Russia-Ukraine conflict". China Daily. Tuesday, March 8, 2022)
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for "calmness and rationality", instead of fueling and escalating the tensions, in resolving the current Ukraine crisis, when meeting the media on Monday in Beijing on the sidelines of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress.
No matter how precarious and challenging the international situation may be, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era will be advanced, said Wang, reiterating that China independently makes judgments and determines its position concerning the Ukraine issue on its own merits with an objective and impartial attitude.
"Countries Must Uphold Principles of the UN Charter"
China believes that to resolve the current crisis, countries must uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and respect and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, he said.
"We must adhere to the principle of indivisible security and accommodate the legitimate security concerns of the parties by peaceful means, through dialogue and negotiation," Wang said. "And we must keep in mind the long-term peace and stability of the region and put in place a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism."
Since the start of the crisis, China has been in close communication with related parties, Wang said. President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 25, expressing China's support for Russia and Ukraine resolving the issue through negotiations. Putin responded positively, Wang said.
China is prepared to continue playing a constructive role in the ongoing Ukraine crisis to facilitate dialogue for peace and will work alongside other members of the international community when needed to carry out necessary mediation, he added.
Humanitarian Operations Should Not Be Politicized
Wang called for efforts to prevent the occurrence of a large-scale humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, saying that humanitarian operations must be based on the principle of neutrality and impartiality and should not be politicized.
He underlined the need to protect civilians and properly take care of the homeless in Ukraine, and he also stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of foreign nationals in the country.
The UN's coordinating role in providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine should be supported, Wang added.
"Noting that China stands ready to continue to make its own efforts to help overcome the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Wang said the Red Cross Society of China will send emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as soon as possible." Reported Cao Desheng. ("Nations urged to de-escalate Russia-Ukraine conflict". Tuesday, March 8, 2022)
Conclusion
By prolonging and protracting the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Biden administration can shift the nation's domestic problem of party rivalry between the Republics and the Democrats into focusing on the current conflict in Eastern Europe, thus fulfilling the US President's campaign pledge of forging national unity, a point that has so far been overlooked by international observers and analysts.
Moreover, "Washington, alarmed at the growing trade relationships between European countries and Russia, has taken the opportunity of the vacuum in European leadership resulting from former German chancellor Angela Merkel stepping down to engineer a breakdown in trust between the two sides and draw the EU closer to the US," according to China Daily's editorial. (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)
China can only continue to staunchly stick to its strong and unmitigated pro-UN Charter stance, until the warring factions come to their senses.
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.
Read more articles by Augustus K. Yeung:
Opinion | Did US President Joe Biden play a role in Russo-Ukraine conflict?
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