Wu Dahui: Regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, China's position has always been the same

Wu Dahui: Regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, China's position has always been the same https://whatchinareads.com/article/?uid=ce5413daf35811ec9896c7030b3aab5e

2022-06-24: [Article Link]  Before and after the outbreak of the conflict in Russia-Ukraine on 24 February, China maintained its position and position, and the nature of the relations between China and Russia remained unchanged. China has always stood by the side of peace to persuade and promote peace; it has always respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and opposed unilateral sanctions and long-armed jurisdictions that are not authorized by the Security Council. First, China has always adhered to the principle of non-aligned relations between China and Russia. On 4 February 2022, the Joint Declaration of China and Russia on International Relations and Global Sustainable Development in the New Era (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Declaration) clearly stated that the two sides were opposed to the continued expansion of NATO and called on NATO to reject the Cold War ideology; urged the United States to respond positively to the Russian initiative to abandon the deployment of land-based medium-range and short-range missiles in Asia and the Pacific and Europe; did not allow for the unrestricted development of global anti-missile systems; China understood and supported the relevant proposals of the Russian side for the establishment of legally binding long-term security assurances for Europe; and opposed the colour revolution. At the beginning of Russia’s special military campaign, the Western world was rife with the “China-know-what” doctrine, which began in March with the “China-Russian conspiracy” and “China-Russian axis” doctrine, and the “China-Sino-Russian aid” doctrine, which became hot in April, as well as the current “China-Western weakening of the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia,” revealed Western suspicion of the Russian-Chinese alliance. Indeed, the strategic partnership between China and Russia is based on a common or similar basic understanding of the world today, as well as on the national interests of both countries. But the strategic partnership between China and Russia has been rising from its inception to today, always rejecting the Cold War-style alliance mentality. As stated in the Joint Declaration, “the two sides advocate and contribute to the building of a new type of great-Power relationship based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and cooperation, which transcends the model of military-political alliance during the cold war. On 30 March, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, further explained that “there is no ceiling on cooperation between the two sides, as stated by the Chinese and Russian heads of State”: the Russian-Chinese cooperation for peace has no ceiling, the Russian-Chinese cooperation for security has no ceiling, and the opposition to hegemony has no ceiling. The conflict in Russia and Russia has not changed the nature of the strategic partnership between China and Russia. Secondly, China has always stood by the side of peace. On 25 February and 15 June, the heads of State of China and the Russian Federation spoke twice, and President Xi said that the Chinese side decided on the Chinese position on the merits of the question of Ukraine itself. China supports a negotiated solution between the Russian Federation and the United States through a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism that is free of the cold war mentality and takes into account and respects the legitimate security concerns of all countries. China has consistently maintained its fundamental position on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and is ready to work with all parties in the international community to promote a common, integrated, cooperative and sustainable concept of security and to firmly uphold the international system, with the United Nations at its core, and an international order based on international law. China has always made its own judgement, actively promoting world peace and promoting the stability of the global economic order, and all parties should contribute in a responsible manner to the proper resolution of the crisis in Ukraine. On 19 March, when the leaders of China and the United States spoke about Ukraine, President Xi stated that the situation in Ukraine had reached a point that China did not wish to see. The events in question have shown once again that State relations cannot move to the point of confrontation, that confrontation is not in the interest of anyone and that peace and security are the most cherished assets of the international community. President Xi stressed that China had two old words, one saying that “one hand does not ring” and the other that “the ringer must be the one.” The key was for the parties to show the political will to look ahead to the future and find appropriate solutions, which could and should be created in other areas. It is imperative to continue dialogue negotiations, avoid civilian casualties, prevent humanitarian crises, and bring an early ceasefire to an end. The long-term solution lies in mutual respect among the major powers, the rejection of cold-war thinking, the absence of camp confrontation, and the gradual construction of a balanced, effective, sustainable global and regional security architecture. Thirdly, China has always been firmly opposed to unilateral sanctions. Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the Western countries have imposed thousands of sanctions on Russia, and China has always been firmly opposed to any illegal unilateral sanctions. As China's State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi said during his video meeting with the Foreign Minister of the BRICS countries on 19 May, “sanctions cannot relieve the difficult security situation in Europe”. China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and long-armed jurisdictions that lack the basis of international law and are not authorized by the Security Council, a position that China has always held in public and internal forums. China calls on the parties concerned not to undermine the legitimate rights and interests of China and others when dealing with Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. At a press conference on 28 March, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, pointed out that more than 140 of the more than 190 States Members of the United Nations are not involved in sanctions against Russia, indicating that the vast majority of the world’s countries are taking a cautious and responsible approach to the issue of sanctions. Taken together, China has always stressed, on issues related to the conflict in Russia and Ukraine, the importance of a ceasefire as soon as possible to achieve peace, which is most valuable for all countries and for the world. We have always called for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, taking into account the interests of all parties, and China has always been on the side of the majority of States.