In this photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (center) chairs a tripartite meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, (left) and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (right) in Antalya, Turkey, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE VIA AP)
Since the start of Russian military operation in Ukraine, China has distinguished itself from uproars and disinformation with a rational and feasible neutral stance and calls for dialogue for mutual addressing of security concerns.
In particular, China has urged that Ukraine should function as a bridge between the East and the West, not a frontier in big power confrontation.
Russia has a constant principled stance that due to certain geopolitical and geostrategic security threats: Ukraine should not be included into NATO and EU.
The Chinese government has taken a most rational stance highlighting the importance of de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy and urged the conflicting parties to give peace a chance, and encouraged rounds of Russia-Ukraine meaningful talks. Moreover, Chinese assistance has been delivered while more are on the road
But as usual the West led and pushed by the United States indulged into proxies and dirty power politics for encircling Russia from its backyard, constantly and steadily expanding NATO troops and weaponry increasing closer to Russia, flirting with Ukraine. NATO's five consecutive rounds of eastward expansion also goes against reports of NATO pledge of the opposite in the 1990s.
Thus Russia has repeatedly conveyed its serious concern about its national security because of heavy presence of NATO in its next door.
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Although Russia showed some necessary flexibility, Ukraine’s remote controlled regime has failed to resolve the ongoing issue.
The Chinese government has taken a most rational stance highlighting the importance of de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy and urged the conflicting parties to give peace a chance, and encouraged rounds of Russia-Ukraine meaningful talks. Moreover, Chinese assistance has been delivered while more are on the road.
China termed unilateral sanctions on Russia “misappropriate” which would hardly achieve satisfactory results.
Refugees wait in a crowd for transportation after fleeing from Ukraine and arriving at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, March 7, 2022. (MARKUS SCHREIBER /AP)
China maintains that the security of one country should not come at the expense of the security of other countries, still less should regional security be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi frequently shared China’s basic position on the Ukraine issue with EU, the US, Ukraine and Russia, which would be an ideal road map for sustainable conflict resolution of the ongoing war.
China maintains that the security of one country should not come at the expense of the security of other countries, still less should regional security be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs. It urged that the Cold War mentality be discarded completely, and stressed that the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be respected and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter abided by in real earnest.
In this regard, NATO’s should stop its advance toward the door of Russia and Russia’s legitimate security demands ought to be taken seriously and properly addressed.
Being a responsible member of the world community, China supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
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The Ukraine issue has evolved in a complex historical context, with deep roots linked with Russia and could serve as an ideal joint between Russia and Western Europe.
For Ukraine to save its people and land from further devastation, its leadership should stand up for itself and avoid getting misled and misread by empty or false promises and arms sales, which have ruined the chances of durable peace and stability in the region.
Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on Feb 24, 2022. (ARIS MESSINIS / AFP)
China also supports the EU and Russia in entering into equal-footed dialogue on European security issues and implementing the philosophy of indivisible security, so as to form eventually a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism
Latest expressions of Ukrainian leadership having no eager interest in joining NATO, with willingness for direct summit talks with Russia are heading toward the inevitable direction.
China also supports the EU and Russia in entering into equal-footed dialogue on European security issues and implementing the philosophy of indivisible security, so as to form eventually a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism.
The wars among European countries clearly demonstrated that respective serious security concerns of these countries pulled them toward deadly conflicts and confrontations in the past.
China's voice and stance is well founded on its faithful fulfillment of its international obligations and constructive role in maintaining world peace and stability over the past decades.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China has the best record in terms of regional as well as global peace and stability efforts among major countries.
It would benefit all sides if the US and EU heed China's voice, and refrain from making another “Berlin Wall” at the doorstep of Russia which would have devastating consequences for the region and beyond, even on food and fuel for people in remote corners.
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Political sanity should prevail and rhetoric should be discarded.
The author is a current affairs analyst and a researcher on regional and geopolitical studies of Pakistan.