Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that his country was willing to work "actively" with the global community and other leaders to mediate the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
While the Asian president offered a helping hand to the growingly tense situation in Europe, he did not offer details and reiterated his opposition to Western sanctions against Moscow. Xi held a virtual call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
China as Mediator in War
The Chinese leader said that the current situation in Ukraine was "worrisome" and that China was "deeply grieved by the outbreak of war again on the European continent." The country's Foreign Ministry released a statement that said the nation would continue to communicate and coordinate with France, Germany, and the EU.
The statement said that in light of the needs of the parties involved, they will actively work with the international community to find a solution toward peace. Authorities added that all efforts "conducive to the peaceful settlement" of the crisis must gain support, as per CNN.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that countries had double standards if they respected Ukraine's sovereignty but not China's sovereignty over Taiwan. Furthermore, the official described the relationship between his nation and Russia as the most crucial bilateral relationship in the world.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China has, for the most part, avoided condemning its ally's aggressive actions. Beijing authorities said they would work on playing a constructive role in urging both nations to negotiate instead of sending their military against each other.
According to WIONews, many see China as the only nation friendly to Russia that could help mitigate some of the Western sanctions. However, President Xi has given no signs that he was willing to risk his own access to U.S. and European markets by aiding Moscow.
Peace Talks Between Russia and Ukraine
Wang added that Xi previously called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin peace talks during their meeting on Feb. 25. The foreign minister also said that China's relationship with Russia was not subject to "third-party interference. He noted that the two nations will continue to advance with a new era of comprehensive strategic partnership.
In an interview, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said that when it comes to mediating a peace deal with Russia it had to be China to make the move. He noted that no nation who had the power to be a mediator has yet to express their desire to begin such talks. China could potentially be the one to take the initiative.
On Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Chinese diplomacy had the right tools to make a difference in the ongoing war. The Asian nation has long been reluctant to play an active role in international disputes as it maintains a position of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs.
However, in recent years, China has adopted a more active foreign policy stance and placed itself into a position of being a broker in several international disputes. This includes tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and between North and South Korea, the Washington Post reported.
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