About a month ago, the Chinese government put forward a proposed plan to put an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The international community didn't seem to bat an eye at this proposition. Nonetheless, during President Xi Jinping's recent trip to Moscow, the Chinese proposal was brought up again officially. Putin himself expressed his willingness to talk about his Chinese colleague's 12-point plan to solve the "acute" crisis in Ukraine. Putin declared, "We're always ready to sit down at the negotiating table."
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The Chinese peace plan is the elephant in the room. It's worth noting that the US and Russia are the most directly involved parties in this crisis. Washington wasted no time in dismissing the Chinese proposal and cautioned that it could be a mere "stalling tactic," as stated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He also said, "The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia supported by China, or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms." Furthermore, the US isn't ready to easily accept China's triumph in playing the mediator in the Ukrainian crisis. Beijing's proposition comes on the heels of its success in forging an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, ending their rift and tensions. The US views China's efforts as a ploy to bolster its international standing and influence by taking on the responsibility of resolving conflicts and playing the role of mediator. Washington is aware of Chinese President Xi Jinping's worldwide aspirations and ambitions for China's role in global leadership. They see the Chinese diplomacy's heightened activity since the outbreak of COVID as a clear indication of these aspirations.
Apart from what has been mentioned earlier, the US doesn't seem willing to resolve the Ukrainian crisis anytime soon. It's apparent that the American political discourse is getting more intense and severe, particularly when it comes to President Vladimir Putin. President Joe Biden has taken a tough stance towards him, even indirectly hinting that he should step down from power in Russia.
Another critical point concerns the US' perception of Chinese-Russian cooperation. There are deep-rooted suspicions about Beijing's support for Moscow, and President Xi's recent visit will only intensify these doubts. This makes the idea of accepting Chinese mediation seem like a surrender or submission to the Chinese-Russian alliance, which many Western circles consider as being at odds with Western values, principles, and influence.
The International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant against President Putin on alleged war crimes is yet another reason why Washington appears to be fuming over the Chinese president's visit to Moscow. Secretary of State Blinken seems to think that China's visit suggests that "China feels no responsibility to hold the Kremlin accountable[.]"
On the flip side, Russia appears to be open to proposals that align with its political interests. This explains their readiness to consider the Chinese proposal, unlike other international proposals from the likes of Brazil and others. It's worth noting that China's plan doesn't explicitly state the necessity for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, which Ukraine and the West consider a prerequisite for any negotiations. China's plan is built on general principles of Chinese diplomatic values, such as respecting the sovereignty of all countries. Additionally, the plan advocates for the rejection of unilateral sanctions, why the US pre-emptively rejects it, seeing it as biased towards one side of the conflict.
In the meantime, President Putin lauded the plan, stating that it considers the principles of justice and promotes holistic and inclusive security for any state. Nonetheless, he stated that progress on this plan can only be achieved when "the West and Kyiv" are prepared for it. He went on to say that Russia has yet to see such "readiness" from the other side, indicating his knowledge of the slim likelihood of acceptance from Western capitals and Ukraine.
An impartial analysis suggests that China has every right to play a role in mediating the Ukrainian crisis that affects the economies of all countries, including China, as a matter of course.
It's crystal clear that China has a vested interest in ending this war without causing substantial harm to Russia, seen as one of the possible pole parties in the near future, as well as one of the most critical suppliers of oil and gas to China through a common border that spans over 4,000 km.
It's worth noting that the West has little sway over these supplies that directly flow into China, which further bolsters China's determination to put an end to this conflict, regardless of whether they have other strategic goals or not.
The West's knee-jerk rejection of any Chinese initiative to resolve the Ukrainian crisis is a shortsighted move that ignores the potential benefits and lacks a true strategic vision for finding solutions. Any concerns about China's role or its proposed plan should not be a reason to dismiss its diplomatic efforts, which are vital given China's significant influence and close ties with Russia. China's ability to sway and push Moscow due to the friendly relationship between the two presidents and the bilateral relations between the two countries is a powerful tool that should not be overlooked. Rejecting China's role in this matter would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
The Chinese peace plan, though not a detailed roadmap, serves as a starting point for discussions, as acknowledged by President Putin. While some Western analysts claim that China wants to safeguard Russia's position in the conflict, fearing the emergence of a unipolar world with the US at the helm, it is clear that the Chinese have a broader interest in promoting a multipolar world order. In any case, these concerns do not justify dismissing China's critical role as a mediator in resolving a crisis that has global implications.
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