Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to soon visit Russia’s Vladimir Putin and, according to media, hold a virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weeks after China proposed a 12-point plan for peace in Ukraine.
China’s foreign ministry has said it is in communication with both sides and, while it has not confirmed Xi’s plan for talks with either Putin or Zelenskyy, there is speculation that China may try to get the rivals to the negotiating table.
Following are some of the issues China and others are likely to be taking into account as it considers prospects for peace in Ukraine.
Why would China try to mediate?
China has traditionally adhered to a principle of not interfering in other countries’ conflicts, especially the more distant ones.
But a peace deal struck in Beijing last week between Saudi Arabia and Iran highlights a Chinese aim to project itself as a responsible great power under Xi’s stewardship, analysts say.
“Xi would want to be seen on the global stage as a statesman whose influence at least equals that of the US leader,” said Wang Jiangyu, a law professor at City University of Hong Kong.
China is also eager to deflect criticism that when it comes to Ukraine, it has sided with the aggressor, Russia, which calls its invasion in February last year a “special military operation.”
Attempting to broker peace is a low-cost venture that can yield high returns for China, even if a quick breakthrough is highly unlikely, analysts say.
What is China’s proposal for peace?
China urged both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation leading to a comprehensive ceasefire in its 12-point paper on the “political resolution of the Ukraine crisis.”
While the plan called for the protection of civilians and that the sovereignty of all countries be respected, China has refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion.
The plan got lukewarm welcomes in both Russia and Ukraine while the United States and NATO were skeptical.
Ukraine, which says it will only consider peace settlements after Russian troops leave Ukrainian territory, took issue with the plan for not stating that Russia should withdraw behind borders in place since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, but later said it was open to “parts of the plan.”
Russia said it would take a “nuanced study” of the plan but did not see any sign for a peaceful resolution for now.
The US said China presented itself publicly as neutral and seeking peace while at the same time reflected Russia’s “false narrative” about the war, provided it with non-lethal assistance and was considering lethal assistance. China denies that.
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