To analyse

Can China mediate in the war in Ukraine?

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by videoconference with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on March 8, 2022. AP - Benoit Tessier

Text by: Stéphane Lagarde Follow

5 mins

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by videoconference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday March 8.

Many voices, in France, in Europe, but also in Australia are urging China to come out of its neutrality and become more involved in resolving the Ukrainian crisis.

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From our correspondent in Beijing

,

There were smiles in the retweets of 

last weekend.

What almost give rise to explanations of texts on “who is who” and “who does what” within the European institutions.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy called on Beijing to play a mediating role to stop Putin's tanks.

And then other voices relayed this message.

" 

," said Hubert Védrine, the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs on Europe 1.

Hubert Védrine on #China's position 🇨🇳 in the face of the invasion of Ukraine 🇺🇦 by Vladimir Putin's troops: "Who can talk to him? They are non-Westerns, and maybe the Chinese" #Europe1

pic.twitter.com/Sjqb5B5Hi0

— AsiaNews (@AsiaNews_FR) March 3, 2022

Smiles, as these demands accompany China's entry into what Chinese President Xi Jinping calls the "new era."

An era with Chinese characteristics obviously, in which the second largest economy in the world, sure of its power, intends to take over all or part of the American leadership and shape a new world order.

A more active role in the talks

China did not respond directly to its various foot calls.

The Chinese president called for " 

" of the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, stressing the need " 

 ", according to the accounts. official press release.

#UPDATE: Xi urged joint support for the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and stressed the need to encourage the two sides to keep the momentum of negotiations, overcome difficulties, keep the talks going and bring about peaceful outcomes.

pic.twitter.com/4wnkqL5X6O

— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) March 8, 2022

This is also what Chinese diplomacy has been repeating since the beginning of the conflict.

Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, reiterated two days ago that he wanted " 

 " between Russia and Ukraine.

中國呼籲俄羅斯和烏克蘭直接談判 https://t.co/HuSItlSzyW pic.twitter.com/uXCreIOyLE

— RFI 華語 - 法國國際廣播電台 (@RFI_TradCn) March 6, 2022

So call for dialogue, call for peace, but without intervening as a mediator directly.

We are not yet in an Antalya format like Thursday, March 10, in Turkey with the trilateral meeting between Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish representatives.

For the moment, no sign of concrete commitment on the Chinese side.

►Also read: War in Ukraine: Xi Jinping wants China to play the role of mediator

A frank neutrality

This position of positive neutrality of China vis-à-vis Russia can evolve, this is in any case what Western diplomats hope.

In Paris, Berlin, London and Washington, it was noted that Beijing had abstained during the various votes at the UN.

China does not have the same interests as Russia, they say in the corridors of Brussels.

China advocates stability and does not want to risk new trade sanctions in the event of even indirect support for the Russian adventure in Ukraine. 

One of the refrains regularly sung by Chinese leaders is that China does not interfere in other people's internal affairs and that others should not interfere in their internal affairs. 

At the same time, Moscow remains a " 

 " of Beijing,

with Russia, in the name of the ties that bind the two countries: " 

 ,” said Wang Yi on the sidelines of the National People's Congress meeting until Friday in the Chinese capital.

Not to mention the personal friendships between Vladimir Putin and the Chinese number one regularly highlighted in the press.

Vladimir Putin is our " 

 “Said Xi Jinping in a video that has circulated widely among Internet fans of the Russian president.  

Result: Chinese diplomacy defends the sovereignty of Ukraine, but refuses to condemn the Russian invasion, while accusing the West and NATO of having opened Pandora's box in a way, which would make the " 

”  Moscow 

.

In short, can China be a solution by being close to Moscow and therefore being able to speak to it and be heard?

Or on the contrary is it not too involved in the interests of Russia to be able to carry the demands of the Ukrainians?  

►Also listen: War in Ukraine: "China has a facade of neutrality"

Beijing supports the "new world order" desired by Vladimir Putin

Chinese and Russians agree on this point.

They are opposed to what used to be called the “

 ," says Chinese diplomacy, which will probably send representatives to the "summit against fascism" announced for next August in Russia.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, wishing to respond to Joe Biden's "democracy summit" at the end of last year.

An event strongly criticized on the Chinese side.    

Setting "democratic standards" according to US model is undemocratic: Chinese FM pic.twitter.com/94qu6iWgW9

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) March 7, 2022

This new Sino-Russian global strategic partnership which intends to offer another vision of the world poses a problem for those who do not share this vision.

Because if China intervenes as a mediator at the call of Europe, it will necessarily ask for pledges in exchange, and probably some could demand renunciation of the values ​​defended by the Europeans. 

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