Webdesk: China aims to posture itself as a peacemaker. President Xi Jinping will travel to Russia on Monday with the hope of achieving a deal on Ukraine.
Xi is aiming for a stronger role for China on the international scene. He was instrumental in facilitating a surprising reconciliation between Middle Eastern enemies Iran and Saudi Arabia this month.
Xi may exert pressure on his “old friend” Putin to stop his bloody invasion during the three-day state visit. He will soon hold his first call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since the outbreak of war. Western capitals are hopeful that Xi will use his “old friend” Putin to stop his bloody invasion.
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated on Friday that China would “play a positive role in facilitating peace talks” in announcing the trip.
Europe stands to lose so much, and the United States may not be able to continue supporting Ukraine. According to Wang Yiwei, head of the Institute of International Affairs at Beijing’s Renmin University of China.
“China may advocate for both sides, claiming to be a trustworthy ally of both Ukraine and Russia. I believe this to be of great importance.”
Neutral Player
Beijing, a key ally of Russia, has long attempted to portray itself as a neutral player in the crisis.
Yet, it has declined to condemn Russia’s incursion and has strongly criticised Washington’s support for Kyiv, which has led Western leaders to accuse Beijing of providing diplomatic cover for Russia to attack its European neighbour.
Professor and Chinese foreign policy expert Elizabeth Wishnick of Montclair State University in the United States stated, “China has done astonishingly little so far to promote peace in Ukraine, since any meaningful effort would require pressing Russia or at least calling Russia out directly.”
Moreover, Xi’s trip, which follows Friday’s announcement by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of war crimes, intends to “express whatever support for his strategic partner he can provide, short of help that would result in penalties,” according to an AFP source.
