Singapore: China has called for a ceasefire in Ukraine at the same time as NATO warns it has seen signs that Beijing is considering sending arms to Russia.
In its first formal policy foray into the war, China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday released a position paper endorsed by Xi Jinping that outlined Beijing’s 12-point plan for resolving the conflict.
“Conflict and war benefit no one,” the position paper said. “All parties should support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible, so as to gradually deescalate the situation and ultimately reach a comprehensive ceasefire.”
Xi Jinping wants a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.Credit:Bloomberg
But Western leaders have accused China of playing a double game as the US considers sharing intelligence showing Beijing was weighing up sending arms to Russia and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg confirms the military alliance has seen evidence that “they are considering and may be planning for that”.
German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that Russia was in talks with Chinese manufacturer Xian Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology about buying 100 drones, capable of carrying a 35 to 50-kilogram warhead, to be delivered by April.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said there would be global condemnation of China if it supplied arms to Russia.
“It shouldn’t happen,” she told the ABC on Friday. “This war, waged by Mr Putin is an attack on sovereignty and it is an attack on the UN Charter, so we would urge China to do all it can to not only not escalate this conflict, but to end it.”
Chinese strategists have been concerned that a sudden Western delivery of arms to Ukraine including jets and combat vehicles could fatally weaken Russia’s position, leading to instability in its largest northern neighbour and undermining its “no limits” partnership with Moscow as the war enters its second year.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says Ukrainian forces need to gain a “decisive advantage” over Russia on the battlefield. At a virtual G7 meeting hosted by Tokyo on Friday, Sunak will renew Britain’s offer to send Typhoon jets to Poland or any other eastern European country that is prepared to hand over its fleet of MiG-29 combat aircraft to Ukraine.
“For Ukraine to win this war – and to accelerate that day – they must gain a decisive advantage on the battlefield […] That is what it will take to shift Putin’s mindset,” Sunak will say according to meeting notes distributed in advance.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the war “must not escalate into nuclear warfare”, warned against the use of biological weapons and opposed sanctions imposed on Russia without the backing of the UN Security Council.
A MiG-29 warplane. Credit:Getty Images
Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council giving it veto power over any sanctions by the other four members the United States, United Kingdom, China and France.
“The security of a country should not be pursued at the expense of others. The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in the position paper.
“The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly.”
Noah Barkin, an analyst for the German Marshall Fund said, “no serious European policymakers” believe China’s peace proposals will yield positive change in Beijing’s approach to the conflict.
“On the contrary, when it comes to the China-Russia relationship, the risk appears greater that the coming year will bring negative surprises,” he said.
“In the first year of the Ukraine conflict, China was careful not to cross the reddest of Western red lines. Were that to change, the damage to Europe-China relations would be immense.”
The vague proposals by Beijing are part of a push to position itself as a global mediator in the conflict and a responsible military power.
The campaign, which has largely targeted developing countries to serve as partners, has been criticised by the US which has called for China to condemn Russia’s invasion and limit its diplomatic support for Moscow.
But it has won some support among China’s economic partners.
Russian state media reported on Friday that officials in Moscow were studying a proposal from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that suggested China, Brazil, India and Indonesia could help mediate peace talks.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.
Most Viewed in World
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article