October 3, 2022
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Putin and Li Zhanshu
Last week, Russia announced the annexation of four occupied territories in Ukraine, triggering international condemnation, but China’s response was very vague, not criticizing Russia, saying only that it “has always maintained that sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected every country. “
International relations scholars told the BBC that the Chinese government is trying to please both sides on the difficult issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Given the current Sino-Russian relationship, China will not stand up to oppose the referendum. in public. But this does not mean that China supports or recognizes the referendum.
International condemnation and China’s response
After the so-called referendum, Russia announced last week that it would annex four regions of Ukraine, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporozhye, which was widely condemned internationally.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the Russian annexation decision “illegal and disgraceful”.
The United States and Albania then prepared and submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council. The draft states that Russia considers four regions of Ukraine as its own sovereign territory, where it is illegal to hold so-called referendums in an attempt to reform the internationally recognized Ukrainian border.
The resolution called on all countries, international organizations and institutions not to recognize Russia’s declaration of annexation, and called on Russia to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw” “all military forces” on the territory of Ukraine.
The draft was not passed due to Russia’s veto. It is worth noting that China, along with Brazil, India and other countries, abstained from voting.
Reuters quoted Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, as saying countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity should be upheld, and their legitimate security concerns should be taken seriously.
For this annex and the so-called referendum, China has clearly not condemned or criticized it.
On September 28, at a press conference from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reporter asked, “Why hasn’t China condemned Russia more clearly? Will this send a wrong signal to separatists elsewhere, especially in Taiwan?”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded: “We always maintain that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country should be respected, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter should be adhered to, and the legitimate security concerns of each country should be taken seriously, and everything is conducive to solving crises peacefully All efforts should be supported As a big responsible country, China is always committed to promoting peace and talks, not standing idly by, or adding fuel to the fire, or taking advantage of the opportunity to make a profit.”
“Face to Russia”
Zhu Zhiqun, professor of international relations at Bucknell University in the United States, told the BBC’s Chinese that the response from the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated that China would not support the Russian-led referendum held in four places in Ukraine, and nor would he recognize the results of the referendum.
He believes that China’s response is to repeat its consistent position.
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Badly damaged houses in Mariupol, Ukraine
“China is definitely opposed to the referendum, but given the importance of the current Sino-Russian relationship, China will not oppose it openly to give face to Russia and Putin. But China has a bottom line and will not stand completely on Russia’s side, especially the invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of parts of Ukraine by referendum,” he said.
In September, Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said during a visit to Russia: “The United States and NATO have directly forced Russia’s doorstep, which is related to Russia’s national security and security In this case, Russia should take For some measures that should be taken, the Chinese side expresses its understanding and provides coping strategies from different aspects.”
Li Zhanshu did not elaborate on how China would “cooperate”, but this statement has attracted wide attention from the outside world and is considered Beijing’s most powerful statement of support for Moscow so far.
“The Chinese government is trying to please both sides on the complicated issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war, so its approach seems ambiguous. He only expresses his principled position, but not on specific issues. Come on, China is still basically on Russia’s side.” Zhu Zhiqun pointed out.
Taiwan and Ukraine
In addition, the Ukraine issue is often compared to the Taiwan issue. After Russia invaded Ukraine, “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow” continued to be a hot topic on the Internet.
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The referendum in the occupied areas of Ukraine is difficult to be recognized by the international community.
Wang Wenbin said that the Taiwan issue is entirely China’s internal affairs, and that it is fundamentally different from the Ukraine issue There is no comparison between the two. incentives.
Zhu Zhiqun believes that the Taiwan issue and the Ukrainian issue are indeed different in terms of history and status, and cannot be confused. A referendum is not the way to solve cross-strait issues.
He said that if there is a referendum, if both sides of the strait participate at the same time, the Taiwan side will definitely not agree. But if Taiwan holds its own referendum, it is an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and the US will oppose it.
