Behind China’s warning against Russian aggression is a desire to protect US ties

A shared interest in facing the US has brought China-Russia relations to their closest point since the early years of the Cold War seven decades ago.

But since Chinese President Xi Jinping this month extended his strongest support to his Russian counterpart in Moscow’s standoff with the West, Beijing has been calling for a solution to the crisis through diplomatic channels, taking its position to the US and its Aligns close to taken by. Associate.

Chinese diplomats and advisers to the Chinese government say the change in tone comes after closed-door discussions by top leaders and reflects Beijing’s desire to avoid an even more hostile relationship with Washington that could lead to China turning to the West. be different and hurt the development of the country in the long run.

“China still wants to keep ties with the US closer together,” said Wang Huiao, a government adviser and chairman of the Beijing think tank Center for China and Globalization.

Speaking to Europe’s pre-eminent annual strategic forum on Saturday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi used the most explicit language yet by a senior Chinese official to deflect a Russian attack against Ukraine. “The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of any country must be respected and protected,” Mr Wang told the Munich Security Conference by video link. “Ukraine is no exception.”

His remarks follow Mr. Xi’s remarks three days earlier, when the Chinese leader called for talks to resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis in a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, a remark that sent European countries no further away. Indicates a desire to push.

In contrast, when Mr. Xi, in his February 4 joint statement with President Vladimir Putin, supported Russia’s opposition to any expansion by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, there was no mention of Ukraine. The statement was issued after Mr. Putin attended the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics as Mr. Xi’s special guest.

Mr. Xi’s eagerness to show solidarity with Mr. Putin is behind the Beijing-Moscow joint stand against NATO expansion as relations with the US have soured, according to people with knowledge of Beijing’s thinking. Just as Russia is concerned about threats to its security from any NATO expansion, one of the people said, China is concerned about “its territorial integrity as a result of US interference in Taiwan”.

The person said, “They think they are in the same boat.” Beijing views Taiwan as Chinese territory and brings the self-governing island to its fold as part of Mr. Xi’s “China Dream” of national resurgence.

However, China’s leadership underestimated the response to the February 4 statement from the rest of the world.

Many in Washington and Brussels saw the Entente as one of the clearest signs that Beijing intends to join forces with Moscow to reshape the global order closer to the authoritarian vision of both its countries. That, due to Beijing’s aggressive behavior toward countries from Australia to Lithuania and increased military activity near the Taiwan Strait, has offered more support for President Biden’s effort to work with allies to protect against China. .

Leaning closer to Moscow, the Chinese leadership still sees it in its own interest not to have a downer-grade relationship with the US. Should Beijing decide to help Moscow evade sanctions in the event of an invasion?

“China views its relationship with the US as controversial and competitive,” said Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia program at the German Marshall Fund, a Washington-based think tank. “But they don’t want to be pushed into the Russian camp.”

Beijing began to clarify its position against the invasion of Ukraine as its highest decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, reappeared in public view. For more than a week, the seven-member group lay behind closed doors for discussions on how to respond to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and how to manage China’s partnership with Russia without harming Beijing’s own interests.

The latest, more explicit comment, referring to Ukraine by name, indicates that Beijing has now settled on a strategy to counter the Russian invasion of the Eastern European country, while promoting threats from Russia to the US and its allies. continues to blame. In Beijing’s view, say Chinese diplomats and government advisers, it is important to maintain its principle of preventing outright hostility with the US-led Western world and opposing any country’s interference in any other country’s internal affairs. Serves his own interests.

Meanwhile, Beijing is set to launch a series of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of former President Richard Nixon’s visit to China. The seven-day visit in 1972 paved the way for the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries and set the stage for China’s opening up to the world.

Chinese diplomats say the events are intended to encourage scholars, businessmen and others to speak up for the need for continued engagement between the two world powers. As the Biden administration launched by President Donald Trump continues a tough line on China, Chinese diplomats have complained about the difficulty of meeting with administration officials.

For example, an event planned in connection with the anniversary of Nixon’s visit, a roundtable discussion with more than two dozen international trade officials, will be organized on Thursday by the Center for China and Globalization, a think tank chaired by Mr. Wang. . Government advisor.

“We want to show that the room for growth in the Chinese market is still huge for US and other foreign companies,” Mr. Wang said.