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OPINION JUNE 09, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

Assessing China’s Role as a

Mediator in the Russia-Ukraine

Conflict and Crisis

The divisions within EU and between EU and the US over China are also apparent.
Reportedly, Brussels is struggling to forge a consensus approach on China as some countries are inclined to

engage with Beijing over trade and Ukraine crisis

MAYURI BANERJEE

t the onset of the Ukraine cri-
sis, China followed a cautious
Aapproach and highlighted its
‘principled neutrality’. China not-
ed that it was not a party to the war
and beyond calls for dialogue and
restraint, it did not expend much
diplomatic effort. However, in the
last few months, China has appeared
interested in playing a major role as
a mediator in the Ukraine crisis.

For instance, on the date of
the first-year anniversary of the

conflict, China published a doc-
ument titled ‘China’s Position
on the Political Settlement of
the Ukraine Crisis’ which high-

lighted 12 points to achieve
ceasefire between Russia and
Ukraine. President Xi Jinping in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, emphasized his interest to promote a political solution for the Ukraine crisis (File photo)

the international strategic communi- the complex historical context and both as a challenge and opportunity
Further, during his visit to Mos-
cow on 21 March 2023, President Xi ty about China’s perception of the maintained that Cold War mentality for China’s strategic interests.
should be completely abandoned.
One of the major challenges
Ukraine crisis and its possible role
Jinping in a meeting with President as a mediator. These remarks referring to ex- China envisaged was portrayal of its
Vladimir Putin, emphasized his in- In February 2022, when Russia’s tended Cold War rivalry between image as a collaborator because the
terest to promote a political solu- military campaign against Ukraine the West and Russia were reiterated military operation followed a few
tion for the Ukraine crisis. Earlier began, Beijing perceived the war multiple times in public statements weeks after China’s declaration of
in April, during a meeting with the primarily through the lens of major by Chinese officials and leaders to ‘no-limit’ partnership with Russia.
visiting French President Emmanu- power rivalry and China’s national emphasize that as the Ukraine con- Further, Beijing assessed that the
el Macron, Xi proposed that China interest. For instance, then Foreign flict is essentially a contest between war will strengthen and revive the
and France should push for a polit- Minister Wang Yi’s comments during the West and Russia, it is not com- Trans-Atlantic alliance, deepen the
ical solution of the crisis. More im- the start of the conflict indicated parable to the Taiwan situation, West’s resolve to contain China and
portantly, for the first time since the that Beijing saw the armed conflict which China considers as an inter- strain her relations with the US and
beginning of the Ukraine crisis, Xi as manifestation of a long-standing nal matter. Also, it was emphasized the EU in the long-run. However, it
Jinping spoke to the Ukrainian Pres- political rivalry between West and that China will not be dragged into was also believed that China might
ident Volodymr Zelensky informing Russia. In his talks with Russian For- major power contestation. Besides gain as the war could become a dis-
him that China’s “core stance is to eign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Wang focusing on the rivalry dimension, traction for the US and its European
facilitate talks for peace”. These ac- Yi remarked that China recognized the Chinese leadership saw the crisis Continued on next page... >>
tions have revived discussions among

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