China’s Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui said on March 22, 2024 that although Russia and Ukraine view the option of peace talks very differently and are committed to their current positions, both believe that the conflict will end through negotiations. During his recent shuttle diplomacy tour to Moscow, Kiev and some European capitals, Li Hui warned diplomats and journalists that there was a risk of further escalation of the war.[1]
Stating that it will be difficult to achieve a ceasefire under the current conditions, Li used the following statements:[2]
“All sides are persistent in their positions, and there is a relatively large gap in their understanding of the peace talks. But they all agree that negotiations, rather than weapons, will ultimately end this war. Although more than two years have passed since the outbreak of the war, there is no sign of a cessation of hostilities, and there is a danger of further escalation of conflicts.”
China and Russia established a partnership “without borders” before the outbreak of the war in early 2022, and Beijing has refrained from condemning the Kremlin over this war. Nevertheless, some Ukrainian officials have said that Beijing should be involved in talks to end the violence.
Russian forces have been advancing slowly and currently control just under a fifth of Ukraine. The counteroffensive launched by Ukraine last year, which managed to repel Russian troops from large areas in the east and south of the country in 2022, has largely been inconclusive.[3]
Noting that Russia appreciates China’s recent shuttle diplomacy tour to Germany, France and Poland, Li said that Ukraine considers its recent visit important. Li noted that China wants an international peace conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, in which both will participate equally. Switzerland is planning to host a peace conference this year in which Moscow is not taking part.[4]
Stressing that China will try to reduce tensions and help the negotiation, Li used the following statements:[5]
“What I should emphasize is that the Chinese side does not prefer one side over the other and only wants to ensure that the meeting is successful. As you can see, the intention of the Chinese side is very clear: to facilitate an early political settlement of this crisis. In the future, China will continue to play a unique role and contribute to ‘Chinese wisdom’.”
Li Hui’s shuttle diplomacy to European capitals is noteworthy. In this context, China is trying to help the peaceful Deconfliction of the conflict by mediating between the parties. This points to China’s growing role as a diplomatic actor in the region.
Perhaps the most important point stressed by Li Hui is that China does not support any of the parties in the conflict, it is neutral and supports only a peaceful solution. This is another indication of China’s principle of neutrality and its equal approach to both sides. This fair attitude of China towards the crisis can be seen as an important contribution to world peace.
China wants to organize an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine. There are growing concerns that these talks will fail if Moscow does not participate in this conference in Switzerland. This highlights the need for the international community to work together to contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
It seems that China has launched a serious diplomatic initiative to support stability in the region and prevent further escalation of the conflict. Moreover, China’s interests in Eurasia are closely related to the stability and security of Europe.
According to China, both Russia and Ukraine believe that the conflict will end through negotiations. This shows that the parties desire a peaceful solution. However, there is still a risk of further escalation of the conflict. This shows the complexity of the solution.
As a result, it can be said that China will continue its efforts to resolve the conflict in the future and has made commitments to this end. This demonstrates China’s long-term commitment to ensuring regional stability and contributing to international peace.
[1] “Russia, Ukraine See Crisis Resolved Through Talks, China’s Special Envoy Says”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-see-crisis-eventually-resolved-through-talks-chinas-special-envoy-2024-03-22/, (Access Date: 22.03.2024).
[2] “Russia, Ukraine See Crisis Resolved Through Talks, China’s Special Envoy Says”, The Economist, https://t.ly/U4JWG, (Access Date: 22.03.2024).
[3] “China’s Envoy Sees ‘Significant Gap’ Between Ukraine, Russia on Peace Talks”, Barron’s, https://www.barrons.com/news/china-s-envoy-sees-significant-gap-between-ukraine-russia-on-peace-talks-e586e489, (Access Date: 22.03.2024).
[4] “Russia, Ukraine See Crisis Resolved Through Talks, China’s Special Envoy Says”, The Economist, a.g.e., (Access Date: 22.03.2024).
[5] “Russia, Ukraine See Crisis Resolved Through Talks, China’s Special Envoy Says”, Reuters, a.g.e., (Access Date: 22.03.2024).
