China’s efforts provide hope amid cynical game played by Washington to prolong Ukraine conflict
(SONG CHEN / CHINA DAILY)
The past year has seen a paradigm shift in the world as Ukraine and Russia went head to head in a conflict that has badly affected the global economy. Instead of solving the crisis, some powers in the developed world are fuelling it.
On the other hand, China, with its neutrality and understanding of the Ukraine-Russia issue, is trying to settle the conflict.
President Xi Jinping’s trip to Moscow in March has given hope that the crisis can be brought to an end. China’s constant position in upholding an impartial role in international affairs has made it clear that Beijing wants to be a neutral party to international disputes and can be a mediator in helping resolve issues.
During his recent phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Xi stressed upon the fact that the Ukraine crisis is getting complex and, if not addressed, will turn into something which will not be in anyone’s favor. China has stayed neutral amid the conflict, maintaining a core stance of promoting peace talks. China’s principled stance has always been to stand for peace.
In the wake of the conflict, President Xi has called for pragmatism. He stressed upon the fact that the fundamental principles that govern international relations should be upheld by all parties, and international fairness and justice should be defended. International law should be standardised and applied equally; double standards must be rejected.
China has clearly stressed dialogue and termed it the best path to move forward. A nation’s sovereignty should always be respected no matter what the situation is. It was the United States’ moves that prompted Russia to launch its “special military operation” in Ukraine in the first place. It all began in April 2008 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, where the US-led group announced that Ukraine and Georgia would join the military alliance. Russians drew a line and made it quite plain that they saw this as an existential threat.
However, over the years, the West advanced its efforts to bring Kyiv into their group in order to make Ukraine a Western bulwark on Russia’s front. Of course, this goes beyond simply NATO expansion. The core of the policy is NATO growth, but it also involves European Union expansion and transforming Ukraine into a pro-American liberal democracy.
Despite the constant warmongering by the US and its Western allies, China has always stressed that there should be no human rights violation. The Chinese leadership has constantly stressed that all measures should be taken to ease the humanitarian crisis. This shows that China has always been an advocate of peace despite difficult circumstances. The emphasis on safeguarding human rights cancels out the negative propaganda spread by the Western media to malign China’s image.
Meanwhile, the US stance on the Ukraine issue has been very cynical. Washington’s constant bid to prolong the conflict and not make any efforts to promote dialogue and peace is strange but not new. When the US said that it will provide arms to Ukraine, it was a clear indication that stopping the conflict is not what the Biden administration wants.
Historically, the US has always been involved in waging wars, and its expansionist ideas are no secret. This is the way they help their arms industry. The recent Pentagon document leaks have clearly indicated that Washington is playing an active role in bringing deterioration in the Ukraine situation. US intelligence assistance has enabled Ukrainian forces to foresee and thwart Russian activities. Pentagon’s active position in the fighting is highlighted by its assistance in planning Ukraine’s air defences.
The US has never sought to bring both the direct parties in the Ukraine conflict to the table. Meanwhile, when China tries to do so, the Western media and all the other anti-China machinery is deployed to target Beijing and malign its image.
As China’s influence rises in the world, making it the flag-bearer of peace and harmony, the West is unable to accept the changed global reality. To slander Beijing’s image and contain China, the Western forces will go to any extent.
The days are gone when the US could force its will on the rest of the global community. We are now in a new world where economic progress is deemed much more valuable than anything else, and will not be compromised.
One needs to understand that world politics is changing. Unless the US-led Western powers change their ways and move to the right path of promoting peace, the global shift of power from the West to East will only gain further traction.
The writer is editor-in-chief of Daily Ittehad group and Pakistan Economic Net, and vice president of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.