观点 | 许勤华：Position Paper to Demonstrate China’s Stance

On 24 Feb 2023, China released a paper stating its position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. XU Qinhua, vice dean of National Academy of Development and Strategy (NADS), executive dean of Eurasian Research Institute, and professor of the School of International Studies (SIS), Renmin University of China (RUC) was interviewed by CGTN.

One year after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the newly position paper released on the morning of February 24, titled China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, explicitly shows China’s objective and unbiased stance.The paper gives an overall evaluation on China's stated aim of de-escalating the conflict in the past year. The paper is also a comprehensive summary of China's position towards Ukraine Crisis in the past year.

China's stated aim of de-escalating the conflict is consistent and responsible. Firstly, China’s position is consistent. Considering the complexity of the Ukraine issue, China has always held an objective and just position and actively promoted peace talks and negotiations. Just as the paper says, principles such as respecting the sovereignty of all countries, ceasing hostilities and resuming peace talks have been repeated by China again and again in the past year. We do not lean on one side, or shift our ground throughout the process, because we firmly stand by peace, stand by dialogue, and stand on the right side of history.

Secondly, China’s position is responsible. As a major country in the world, China is dedicated to promote the peaceful settlement of the crisis. We advocate peace talks and amicable negotiations instead of providing weapons or imposing sanctions. The paper also emphasizes the necessity of keeping nuclear power plants safe and promoting post-conflict reconstruction, which clearly demonstrates China’s responsible attitude toward the issue. Furthermore, China will continue to work with the international community and contribute to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

China is urging the international community to promote peace talks. Over the past year, China has been advocating the international community to promote peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. But there is still a long way to go for the Ukraine crisis to effectively de-escalate. Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has always adhered to the basic principles of the United Nations, and tried to solve the crisis through possible diplomatic channels. There is no doubt that, as an important force for peace and stability of the world, China has played a significant role in easing the tense situation and effectively preventing its rapid deterioration. Nevertheless, we have to admit that, at least in the short term, China’s appeal is still a kind of soft suggestion, which does not have any compulsory power to reverse the current complex and serious situation.

The prospect of the crisis not only depends on the perceptions and policies of both Russia and Ukraine, but also has been influenced by the actions of some key western countries. China’s position paper has reiterated the need to stop unilateral sanctions, which only create new problems instead of solving the issue. But it still seems hard for the west to acknowledge and do so. Looking into the future, there is room for China and other third-party countries to engage in the peaceful process of the Ukraine crisis in ways like providing platform for negotiation, shuttle diplomacy and so on.