For the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine, China has announced a peace initiative, but Beijing has not yet given any details. The Foreign Minister of the People's Republic warns of an escalation of the conflict - but apparently sees the USA as a security threat rather than Russia.
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang has expressed concern about a possible escalation of the Ukraine war. Presenting a concept paper on the Global Security Initiative (GSI) by head of state and party leader Xi Jinping, Qin Gang said in Beijing: "China is deeply concerned that the conflict could escalate and even get out of control." However, the Foreign Minister continued to refrain from criticizing Russia for its war of aggression.
China is committed to peace talks and dialogue to consider all countries' interests and seek common security, Qin Gang said. "At the same time, we urge the countries concerned to immediately stop fanning the flames, stop blaming China, and stop chanting 'Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow'."
In doing so, he dismissed growing international concerns that China, like Russia in Ukraine, could launch a war to conquer Taiwan. Beijing sees the island state as part of the People's Republic. The democratic island republic, on the other hand, has long considered itself independent and seeks international recognition as a nation. The US has committed to Taiwan's defense capability.
On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion on Friday, China announced its own peace initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. It is unclear whether a concrete plan will be presented beyond the current concept paper. It only mentions the Ukraine war in one sentence with the support of "dialogue and negotiations".
Internationally, China's announcement was greeted with skepticism because the communist leadership in Beijing is backing Russian President Vladimir Putin and is taking a front against the US and NATO. China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning recently summed up the Chinese position: "The USA are the ones who triggered the Ukraine crisis." They are also "the biggest factor fueling the crisis". However, the alliance with Russia is increasingly isolating China in the world. Diplomats in Beijing warned that the peace initiative could only be a kind of propaganda flight forward.
With his previously presented Global Security Initiative, Xi Jinping is relatively vaguely pursuing a "new concept of security" in the world. In addition to respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is about cooperative, sustainable and "indivisible" security, compliance with the UN Charter, consideration of the "legitimate security interests of all countries" and the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and consultation.
