China’s proposal on Ukraine-Russia war has caused confusion

While Western leaders such as US President Joe Biden, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed skepticism about the proposals, the Kiev administration claimed that the proposals, including the call for a ceasefire, “they were not a peace plan”. “.

12 ARTICLE DOCUMENT

Yesterday, on the anniversary of the war, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a “position paper” containing proposals for a “political solution to the Ukraine crisis.”

In the 12-point document, which included general principles and principles that Beijing recommended to follow for a solution, it was emphasized that the sovereignty of countries must be respected, legitimate security concerns must be taken into account, an end to unilateral sanctions. and tensions must be gradually reduced and a ceasefire must be achieved.

“WILL BE USED TO UPGRADE FOR NEW ATTACKS”

US President Joe Biden, in an interview with US ABC television, stated that he could see nothing that would benefit anyone but Russia in the proposals, saying: “What good are these (suggestions)? Only Putin applauds.” saying.

Worried about supplying weapons to Russia

Providing evidence to the question about the Washington administration’s concerns about China supplying Russia with weapons, Biden said: “I don’t expect this, we haven’t seen anything like this yet, I don’t think China will take a big initiative to supply weapons. to Russia”. he used his statements.

In his speech at the United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting yesterday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that a temporary and unconditional ceasefire should not be allowed to provide an opportunity for Russia to rearm and prepare for new attacks.

“Council members must not be fooled by a call for a temporary or unconditional ceasefire. Russia will take advantage of the cessation of the conflicts to consolidate its control in the lands it occupies illegally and renew its strength for new attacks. she performed her assessment.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also told CNN television that China’s proposals should end at the first clause, namely the call for “respect for the sovereignty of all countries.”

CALL FOR NEGOTIATION FROM CHINA

Expressing China’s solution proposals at the Security Council meeting, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission to the UN, Dai Bing, noted that long-term diplomatic negotiations are the “only correct way” to resolve the crisis. , and called on Russia and Ukraine to provide a platform for negotiation without preconditions.

“Bringing the conflicting parties to the negotiating table will not be easy, but this is the first step towards a political solution,” Dai said. saying.

Reiterating that China is against unilateral sanctions, Dai noted that the effects of the war on global supply chains hit developing countries the hardest, with these countries paying the most for the food, energy and financial crises, saying : stop abusing your cross-border jurisdiction.” saying.

5 MORE COMPANIES FROM CHINA ARE BLACKLISTED

Meanwhile, the US Department of Commerce added 5 more Chinese companies to the sanctions list last year on suspicion of aiding Russia.

In a statement, the ministry said the companies in question “make a significant contribution to the capabilities of Russia’s military and/or defense industry and engage in activities contrary to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

The decision comes after US officials warned earlier in the week that China should not provide arms support to Russia in the Ukrainian war.

Foreign Minister Blinken said US intelligence has received information that China is considering providing weapons and ammunition to support Russia in the Ukraine war, that Chinese companies are already providing “non-lethal” types of support to the Russian defense industry. , that the new information is that Beijing directly claimed that it had shown that it could also provide “lethal” weapons and ammunition.

WARNING TO “THIRD COUNTRIES” OF THE G7

While the G7 countries, made up of the United States, Canada, England, Germany, France, Italy and Japan, called for the immediate cessation of Russian aggression and the unconditional withdrawal from the occupied territories, in a joint statement published in the war anniversary. , Russia called on “third countries” and other international actors and warned them to refrain from providing economic and military aid to Turkey.

“Third countries that help circumvent sanctions against Russia will face serious costs,” the statement said. statement was included.

“CHINA CHOOSES SIDE”

European leaders also expressed their doubts and objections to the proposals contained in China’s position paper.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in her statement during her visit to Estonia, stressed that China did not act impartially in the Russia-Ukraine War, saying: “We need to see this document with its background. Before the invasion of Ukraine began, China had chosen its side by declaring its ‘unlimited friendship’ with Russia”. saying.

Von der Leyen stated that they will consider suggestions consisting of general principles and approaches, saying, “Of course, we will evaluate the principles, but we will evaluate them by remembering that China has ultimately chosen its side.” he used his words.

After meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during Putin’s visit to China for the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 4, 2022, just before the start of the war, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that “The friendship between China and Russia has no limits. The joint statement led to the comment that China “foreign” and “gave implied consent” to military operations that will begin immediately after the end of the Olympic Games.

“WE SHOULD NOT BE ILLUSIONED ABOUT CHINA”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also told his country’s ZDF television: “We shouldn’t have any illusions about China. So far, they have not taken a stance against Russia.” he performed the assessment of it.

The Dutch ambassador to China, Wim Geerts, in an article posted on a Dutch website, argued that China’s proposals are “politically motivated” and “aim to cover up Russia’s crimes and blame the West instead.”

“This may fool someone, but the Ukrainians see the fact that it was the one who drew the gun and pulled the trigger who was responsible for the death of their own citizens,” Geerts wrote. he made the comment of him.

EU Committee on Foreign Relations and Security Policy spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said China’s 12-point position paper emphasizes some principles of the UN Charter, but contains selective and inadequate assessments of the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Noting that the document does not discriminate between the “aggressor” and the “victim,” Massrali said that “Beijing’s position incorrectly focuses on what is expressed as ‘the legitimate security interests and concerns of the parties.’ It therefore implies the legitimacy of Russia’s illegal occupation and blurs the lines of ‘aggressor’ and ‘attacked’,” he said.

Massrali stressed that they regret that China has abstained from the UN resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, and that this attitude raises questions about the solution proposals.

“NOT A PEACE PLAN, A FREEZE OF WAR”

Meanwhile, Ukraine, one of the parties to the conflict, has also expressed its dissatisfaction with China’s proposals.

Mikhail Podolyak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in a statement: “Any peace plan that provides for a ceasefire and the drawing of a new border line will continue with the occupation of Ukrainian territory and Russian genocide. This is not peace, but a freeze on war. The defeat of Ukraine will be the next stage of the Russian genocide.” he used his statements. (AA)