Chinese stand on the war in its early days

China’s perception of Russian aggression evolved as the war ground on. Beijing had no clear stance on the war, with its state media outlets broadcasting somewhat chaotic content. On February 25, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had phone conversations with UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, and French Diplomatic Advisor to President Emmanuel Bonne 1. In a statement, China said that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected and encouraged all diplomatic efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Importantly, Beijing did not condemn the Russian invasion nor did it refer to the events as aggression or war. China echoed the Russian argument that Moscow’s war on Ukraine was due to a failed security architecture in Europe. China also upheld the declaration that Xi and Putin had signed in Beijing hours before the Beijing Winter Olympics officially opened on February 4, 2022 2 . The statement declared support for

Chinese interests in the Into-Pacific and Russian security demands in Europe. The declaration referred to the Sino-Russian vision of a new global order, aimed at eroding the importance of the United States worldwide. China has abstained from voting on UN Security Council and General Assembly draft resolutions condemning the Russian aggression. However, on April 7, 2022, Beijing voted against suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council amid Russian war crimes in Bucha 3. The Chinese stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine hinged on the latest developments in Ukraine and Russia’s military failures at the beginning of the war. Russia wrongly assumed it could sweep into the whole country and the war might last longer than expected. Meanwhile, China was shocked by a firm response from the United States and the European Union as both sanctioned Russia and offered military supplies to war-torn Ukraine.

1. Wang Yi presents China’s five-point position on Ukraine, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Poland, 27 February 2022, http://pl.china-embassy.gov.cn/pol/zglc/202202/t20220227_10645995.htm [access: 12 June 2023].

2. University of Southern California (2022, February 4), Russia-China Joint Statement On International Relations. https://china.usc.edu/russia-china-joint-statement-international-relations-february-4-2022. DOA: June 12, 2023.

3. United Nations (2022, April 7), UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115782. DOA: June 12, 2023.