One year into Russia’s war against Ukraine, China is offering a 12-point proposal to end the fighting.
The proposal follows China’s recent announcement that it is trying to act as mediator in the war that has re-energised Western alliances that Beijing and Moscow view as rivals.
With its release, President Xi Jinping’s government is reiterating China’s claim to being neutral, despite blocking efforts at the United Nations to condemn the invasion. The document echoes Russian claims that Western governments are to blame for the war and criticises sanctions on Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed scepticism about Beijing’s position before the plan’s release. He said China had provided non-lethal assistance to Russia and that Beijing was also “considering providing lethal support”. China dismissed the allegation as a smear.
What has China proposed?
China’s proposal calls for a ceasefire, peace talks and an end to sanctions against Russia.
Many of the 12 points were very general and did not contain specific proposals.
One point said “relevant countries”, without naming them, “should stop abusing unilateral sanctions” and “do their share in de-escalating the Ukraine crisis”.
Without mentioning either Russia or Ukraine, another point said the sovereignty of all countries should be upheld. It didn’t specify what that would look like for Ukraine, or for the land taken from it since Russia seized Crimea and began supporting Donbas separatists in 2014.
The proposal also condemns a “Cold War mentality,” referring to the United States and the Nato military alliance.
“The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs,” the proposal says. Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded a promise that Ukraine would not join the bloc before the invasion.
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Other points call for a ceasefire, peace talks, protection for prisoners of war and stopping attacks on civilians, without elaborating, as well as keeping nuclear power plants safe and facilitating grain exports.
Has China provided support to Russia?
China’s support for Russia has been largely rhetorical and political. Beijing has helped to prevent efforts to condemn Moscow at the United Nations. There is no public evidence it is currently supplying arms to Russia, but the US has said China is providing non-lethal support already and may do more.
Blinken said the United States has long been concerned that China would provide weapons to Russia. “We have information that gives us concern that they are considering providing lethal support to Russia,” he said.
Blinken said he expressed to the Chinese envoy to the meeting, Wang Yi, that “this would be a serious problem”.
Russian and Chinese forces have held joint drills since the invasion, most recently with the South African navy in a shipping lane off the South African coast.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov expressed doubt about China’s willingness to send lethal aid to Russia.
“I think that if China will help them … it will not [be] weaponry. It will [be] some kind of clothes,” he said.
