Sébastien Le Belzic 06h17, March 03, 2022
China is increasingly distancing itself from Moscow and offering to mediate in the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Beijing has even started to evacuate its nationals who are in Ukraine.
How can this about-face by China be explained?
China, hitherto an ally of Russia, is increasingly distancing itself from Moscow.
And it's a real change in the tone of Chinese diplomacy.
Indeed, Beijing calls for respect for Ukraine's borders and for the departure of Russian troops.
China even offers to play mediator, certainly under the aegis of the UN because it wants a global settlement that can satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, but also its interests.
And it sets two red lines not to be crossed: no NATO enlargement and the end of economic sanctions.
Because obviously, business must be able to continue during the war.
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China's largest overseas evacuation operation
Beijing has even started to evacuate its nationals.
It is China's largest overseas evacuation operation.
Nearly 3,000 Chinese, or half of its nationals in Ukraine, have been evacuated in the past 24 hours by special convoys in around thirty buses under the escort of Ukrainian police and Chinese diplomats.
China alongside the Ukrainians?
They head for neighboring countries like Poland, Moldova and Uzbekistan.
Chinese people worried about being taken to task because of Beijing's support for Moscow.
Which no doubt explains China's desire to show that it is also on the side of the Ukrainians.