The Chinese government calls on Russia and Ukraine for dialogue, a year after the start of the conflict. Seeking to be a mediator, Beijing is proposing this Friday a twelve-point plan “on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.”
Twelve points to end a twelve-month conflict? This Friday marks the anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, launched by Russia on February 24, 2022. China has been seeking to play a mediating role in the Ukrainian conflict for several weekspublicly discussing a plan to find a political solution.
Posted overnight from Thursday to Friday on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairsa document, titled China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, summarizes in twelve points the position of Beijing on the conflict.
“Ceasefire” and return to the negotiating table
Beijing calls on Moscow and Kyiv to “leave behind the Cold War mentality.” For China, “one country’s security should not be sought at the expense of others, nor achieved” through the expansion or strengthening of military blocs.
“There is no simple solution to a complex issue,” says the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which does not explicitly mention pro-Russian territories east of Ukraine or Crimea in the document.
To “prevent a confrontation between blocks” and “work together for peace and stability in Eurasia”, China calls on the two parties to return to the negotiating table. “Dialogue is the only viable solution to the Ukrainian crisis,” reads the document, which pleads for a “decaling” of the conflict before a “ceasefire.”
The “sovereignty of all countries” must also be respected, assures Beijing, which is for its part criticized by Taiwan because of its repeated threats against the small island.
China wants to “resolve the humanitarian crisis” in Ukraine and “all measures in this direction must be encouraged and supported”, pleads Beijing. These “humanitarian operations” must be carried out in a “neutral” framework and “must not be politicized.”
“The UN should be supported in its role of coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid to conflict areas,” the document said.
“The parties (involved) in the conflict must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian buildings”, pleads the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China also encourages the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.
Central point of the war in Ukraine: nuclear power. With the risks around Zaporijjia, Beijing says it is opposed to “attacks on nuclear power plants” and supports the IAEA in the role it plays in the country to protect sensitive sites.
Still on nuclear issues, China believes that atomic weapons “must not be used and we must not engage in nuclear war. We must oppose the threat or the use of nuclear weapons.” Beijing also says it is opposed to the “research, development and use of chemical or biological weapons.”
End of unilateral sanctions
The most sensitive point of the titled document, Beijing proposes, without citing Russia, “the end of unilateral sanctions” aimed at Moscow.
“Unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the issue, they only create new problems,” the Foreign Ministry said. “China opposes unilateral sanctions not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.”
“The countries concerned must stop abusing unilateral sanctions in order to contribute to the de-escalation of the Ukrainian crisis,” pleads Beijing.
What reaction from Zelensky?
Thursday, several hours before the publication of this document, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted to discuss with Beijing the Chinese peace plan for Ukraine, judging “positive” the involvement of this close partner of Moscow.
“That China is starting to talk about Ukraine and is sending some signals is a very positive point,” he also said, stressing however that he had “not yet” been able to learn about the plan. of Chinese peace and that it was thus “too early to evaluate it”.
