Strengthening strategic cooperation with Russia

China has been eager to provide support to Russia since the invasion began. Beijing believes the war might compromise the position of the European Union and the United States worldwide, as a path towards a new global order where China could take a prominent position 4. China does not throw full support to Russia as it is pushing for its core interests.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on March 30, 2022, held talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in the southeastern Chinese province of Anhui 5. In a joint statement, the Chinese and Russian chief diplomats agreed to expand the Sino-Russian strategic partnership. Lavrov stressed the two countries made continuous efforts towards a multipolar and democratic global order. Both sides also condemned the Western sanctions imposed in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In April 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a global security initiative that would uphold the principle of indivisible security 6 . The initiative, which was formally released on February 21, 2023, contained twenty roadmaps for cooperation 7. In the statement, China pledged its impartial stance on the Ukraine conflict, calling for peace talks. China urged all parties to carry out security cooperation and stay committed to: z maintaining the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, z respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, z abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, z taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously, z peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, z maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains.

China keeps parroting its propaganda to portray Beijing as a leader of a sustainable and peaceful world. The Chinese government has been eager to position itself as a peace broker to end the war between Russia and Ukraine since the invasion began. At the same time, Beijing blames the West for taking sides by sending defensive weapons to war-torn Ukraine.

4. Przychodniak, M. (2023, March 31), Polityka Chin wobec rosyjskiej inwazji na Ukrainę. Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). https://www.pism.pl/publikacje/polityka-chin-wobec-rosyjskiej-agresji-na-ukraine. DOA: June 12, 2023.

5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (2022, March 30). Wang Yi Holds Talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx_662805/202203/t20220331_10658029.html. DOA: June 12, 2023.

6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (2022, April 21), Xi Jinping Delivers a Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ zxxx_662805/202204/t20220421_10671083.html. DOA: June 12, 2023.

7. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Poland (2023, March 1), The contribution of China’s power to the sustainable and peaceful development of the world. http://pl.china-embassy.gov.cn/pol/sghd_1/202303/t20230301_11033126.htm. DOA: June 12, 2023.