China has recently made a bold move in response to the West's attempts to seek its assistance in resolving the Ukraine conflict. In an effort to win over Russia and gain global influence, China has launched a charm offensive, led by senior diplomat Wang Yi's visit to Europe and subsequent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Two position papers have been released, with one offering a solution to the Ukraine conflict and the other outlining a plan for global peace, which reiterates China's stance on respecting sovereignty and national security interests while opposing the use of unilateral sanctions. While the West may not be swayed by China's rhetoric, Beijing's main objective is not necessarily to convince them, but rather to demonstrate its growing role on the global stage.
China's goal: send a clear message to US
The charm offensive by China serves multiple objectives. Firstly, it aims to position China as a global peacemaker by engaging with South East Asia, Africa, and South America, also known as the Global South. By promoting an alternative vision to the US-led world order, China is wooing the rest of the world, which is watching how the West handles the Ukraine crisis.
Another goal is to send a message to the US, indicating that China has other options in the face of a confrontation. According to Alexander Korolev, an expert in Sino-Russian relations at the University of New South Wales, there is an element of defiance in China's actions, signaling that it has Russia as a partner and will not be alone in case of conflict.
Observers note that the timing of the charm offensive is significant, as relations between China and the US have deteriorated, exacerbated by the spy balloon incident. Some experts have questioned why China is only now making a big diplomatic push to end the war if its intention is genuinely to help resolve the conflict.
In addition, Mr. Wang's itinerary during his European tour indicates a third goal: testing the waters to see if China could win over some of Europe's leaders perceived to be taking a less hardline stance on Russia. By visiting France, Germany, Italy, and Hungary, China may be attempting to lure some European nations into its orbit.
China's recent charm offensive has multiple goals. Firstly, it aims to position itself as a global peacemaker by presenting an alternative vision to the US-led world order and wooing the Global South. Secondly, it sends a clear message of defiance to the US and signals that it has Russia as an ally, which may prevent the US from bullying China. Thirdly, by visiting countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Hungary, China may be testing the waters to see if it can lure some of Europe into its orbit, detaching them from the US's hegemonic power. However, China's message criticizing the US did not play well in a roomful of America's staunchest allies at the Munich Security Conference. The US has also warned that China was considering supplying lethal weapons to Russia, and Chinese firms had already been supplying non-lethal dual-use technology to Russia. Thus, the key question remains whether China will live up to its word of making peace as it tightens its embrace of Russia.
The article discusses how China's recent diplomatic push for peace in Ukraine serves multiple purposes, including positioning itself as a global peacemaker and sending a message to the US that it has other options besides American hegemony. China is also trying to lure some European countries into its orbit, though this goal may be difficult to achieve. While China denies any plans to supply lethal weapons to Russia, it is likely to continue indirect support such as boosting economic trade and supplying dual-use technology through third-party states. As the war in Ukraine drags on, China may eventually face the question of how far it is willing to go to support its special friend, Russia.
