Understanding China’s International Policies from Its Reactions to The Ukrainian Crisis

ABSTRACT – Russia on February 24, 2022, began a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine which, according to the UN, resulted in almost 3,000 civilian deaths and more than seven million internal displacements. China, like many other modern-day nations, is significantly impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. China and Russia over the past decade have strengthened relations, and their alignment is driven by a shared desire to curb the US’s hegemonic influence. However, recent events have completely altered China’s global position, and as a result, China is now struggling to defend its stance on the issue. China’s decision to abstain from the United Nations and its bodies due to the Ukrainian conflict leads us to question the relationship between both countries. Thus, this article will discuss China’s international politics while considering its response to the Ukrainian Crisis and will also analyse the bilateral relationship.

Keywords China, Ukrainian Crisis, global position, United Nations, Russia

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 followed the conclusion of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which President Vladimir Putin and other dignitaries attended. A day earlier, China and Russia had released a joint statement pledging “no limits” to their strategic alliance and collaboration. The nuclear-armed neighbours’ have gotten closer in recent years. The Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation was the first agreement between China and Russia since 1950, signed in 2001, according to the treaty, China and Russia would “remain allies forever and never become foes,”.

A turning point in Sino-Russian ties occurred in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, a region of Ukraine with a large Russian population. Experts claim that despite Russian policymakers’ worries about China’s expansion in the Russian Far East and Central Asia, cooperation with China has become a top priority for Russian officials as a result of post-Crimea Western sanctions.

While the West sanctioned Russia, China boosted its economic ties with its neighbour by negotiating a number of energy deals, notably the 400-billion-dollar Power of Siberia pact barely three months after the annexation, which helped Russia’s economy recover. Sino-Russian cooperation has only gotten stronger since 2014. Bilateral commerce hit an all-time high of 147 billion dollars, with the vast majority of Russian exports to China consisting of energy items. By 2024, the two nations anticipate their bilateral trade will total $200 billion.

However, China is in a challenging situation as a result of the Ukrainian crisis. Despite the close economic ties between China and Russia, one of China’s foreign policy tenets is respect for a country’s territorial integrity. However, despite its attempts to show itself as essentially neutral, China’s policies actually serve to defend Russia admirably and deepen Sino-Russian relations. This was proved when China chose not to vote on the UN Security Council resolution denouncing the invasion of Ukraine, staying firm on its values that state the country’s non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations along with the non-interference of other nations in China’s domestic matters.

A number of stern statements have been made by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has not supported nor opposed the invasion of Ukraine in any way. According to the ministry, the situation is difficult, sanctions are ineffectual, and the West is mostly to blame for the war since it forced Russia into a corner by enlarging NATO into historically Russian-controlled territory. Earlier too, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Beijing questioned the NATO alliance’s very survival. It had voiced opposition to the NATO proclamation on interference in the internal affairs of other nations based on racial and religious matters during its 50th anniversary in 1999 and made assumptions about the likelihood of such measures against Xinjiang and Tibet. On the 70th anniversary of NATO’s proclamation in London in December 2019, it also expressed worry that China presents both an opportunity and a challenge.

Despite being portrayed as an alliance between two authoritarian regimes with complementary ideologies, China and Russia are separate nations with different objectives. Beijing, which has become a target for the west in recent years, would find a solution to its dilemma by compelling the West to focus on Europe as a result of Russia’s abrupt action in Ukraine. Therefore, the best-case scenario for China is for the West and Russia to be at loggerheads, giving Beijing the time and room to develop its power and influence. China’s policy will be influenced by these factors both in the short and long term.

Beijing has no interest in putting itself in the sights of the West as the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalates into a war. Chinese diplomats have recently made concise, well-balanced statements at international forums to allay Western worries that Beijing would start military operations against Taiwan as Russia conducts military operations in Eastern Ukraine, which is a nightmare situation for the West.

To avoid upsetting an unpredictable partner who is currently helpful in deflecting Western focus away from Asia, China is likewise avoiding direct criticism of Russia. Beijing is therefore attempting to maintain neutrality since the struggle between the West and Russia is advantageous for China, which is aiming to increase its power slowly but steadily and is already one step ahead by making ties with Zimbabwe for its lithium mines, which is a key component in the race to control the EV battery market.

For the duration of 2022, the dispute between the West and Russia over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be the key international issue. China is likely to gain from tensions between Moscow and Western capitals in the near future. Therefore, it has a clear reason to wish for this war to continue.

In light of the current situation, Moscow will be further drawn into Beijing’s sphere of influence as a result of its deteriorating relations with the West and the imposition of Western sanctions, giving Beijing more weight and control over the situation. China has undoubtedly devised steps in response to Russia’s request for financial aid in this area. And all of these strategic moves can be viewed as China’s way to global domination and replacing the US as a superpower, and to achieve this motive, every other nation is acting like a pawn on a chessboard. However, according to experts, Chinese existing assistance to Russia’s invasion will further intensify China’s already tense relations with affluent democracies like the United States, EU nations, and Japan, which are also its main trading partners.

So to break up the united front between the United States and Europe, which has been putting more pressure on China, it will not, however, move with Russia against the West and will further distance itself from Russian aggression toward Ukraine but this move won’t be sudden because their economies are complementary, Russia has abundant energy reserves but needs investment and help to broaden its industrial base, whereas China is a manufacturing power but lacks resources, necessitating Russian energy. Additionally, China has been a significant buyer of Russian cutting-edge weapons, Thus, China is keenly monitoring the breakdown of the peace in Europe as the Russian invasion of Ukraine gets underway and is considering how to advance its interests by playing both ends against the middle.

References

• Deutsche Welle, Explained: Why China thinks the West is to blame for the Ukraine Conflict, March 15, 2022, FRONTLINE INDIA’S NATIONAL MAGAZINE, https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/explained-why-china-thinks-the-west-is-to-blame-for-the-ukraine-conflict/article65274028.ece

• Chen Qingqing and Liu Xin, China, Russia agree to extend good neighborliness treaty as Putin congratulates CPC on centenary in phone call with Xi, June 28, 2021, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202106/1227260.shtml

• Zoya Hussain, Explained: What is China’s Policy Towards the Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, March 01, 2022, https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/chinas-policy-toward-the-ongoing-russia-ukraine-war-563253.html

• BBC News, Beijing, The Ukraine crisis is a major challenge for China by Stephen Mc Donell, February 28, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60492134

• Iliya Kusa, China’s Strategic Calculations in the Russia- Ukraine War, June 21, 2022,

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/chinas-strategic-calculations-russia-ukraine-war

Ankita Sen

Intern, Asia in Global Affairs