China has called for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. A much-anticipated 12-point paper released by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing also calls for an immediate resumption of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. “Dialogue and negotiations are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis,” says the position paper.
However, China’s efforts to become more involved with proposals had previously been viewed with skepticism, as China has not yet condemned Russia’s war of aggression. “All parties should support Russia and Ukraine to work in the same direction and ultimately achieve a comprehensive ceasefire,” the document said. “Conflict and war serve no one. All parties must remain rational, exercise restraint and avoid fanning the flames, and prevent the crisis from worsening or even spiraling out of control.”
China also demands that the principles of the United Nations must be strictly observed. “The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld,” reads the first point of the paper, which observers often relate to Ukraine’s original borders. At the same time, however, it also calls for the “legitimate security interests of all countries to be taken seriously”. Diplomats see this formulation as a clear reference to Russia’s argument that it must defend itself against the United States and NATO.
In the document, China also calls for a reduction in the strategic risks of war: “Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought.” The threat of using nuclear weapons should also be rejected.
The paper is entitled “China’s position on the political solution to the Ukraine crisis”. However, diplomats in Beijing have been wary of describing the proposals as a “new peace initiative” or “peace plan.” Reference was made to China’s special proximity to Russia and its lack of neutrality. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began a year ago, China has always backed Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing the US and NATO as the real culprits of the crisis.
