China and The Wars in Ukraine and Israel

[Randy W]

India and China, countries that have offered Russia some relief in the face of Western sanctions, expressed concern after the deadly missile strikes across Ukraine on Monday and renewed calls for de-escalation and dialogue.

from the NY Times on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/5281959998/posts/pfbid0NXdRK3koJxz51gVK3ZG1LU5yvKobwNtefsQxYkjbkADhN5qzZ3ttWyLc2R5jerP9l/

India and China, which have refrained from criticizing Russia, call for de-escalation.

A vehicle that was destroyed in the attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Monday.Credit...Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times

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Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, told a press briefing that “all countries deserve respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity” and that “support should be given to all efforts that are conducive to peacefully resolving the crisis.”

Arindam Bagchi, the spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said New Delhi would offer support for efforts to calm the fighting.

“India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians,” Mr. Bagchi said.

As the war in Ukraine has dragged on, President Vladimir V. Putin’s continued aggression has put his remaining allies in a difficult position. China and India have increasingly sought to distance themselves from the Russian leader, even as they have avoided directly condemning his invasion of Ukraine and continued to engage with Moscow economically — especially by purchasing more Russian oil as Europe has moved to reduce its imports.

At a summit in Uzbekistan last month that was meant to be a show of force for Mr. Putin, the Russian leader acknowledged that President Xi Jinping of China had raised “questions and concerns” about the war. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, was more public and direct, describing how the war has exacerbated challenges for developing countries. He told Mr. Putin at the summit that their meeting would be “a chance to discuss how we can move forward on the path of peace.”

 

 

[Randy W]

US Warns Hong Kong on Sanctions After Russian Megayacht Turns Up

• Megayacht linked to Russian oligarch docks in Hong Kong waters
• Sanctioned tycoons may try to avoid curbs using financial hub

from Bloomberg

FILE - In this image taken from video footage run by TVB, the megayacht Nord, left, worth over $500 million, is seen off Hong Kong Island outside Victoria Harbour on Oct. 7, 2022. The U.S. has warned Hong Kong in a statement Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 that its status as a financial center could be affected if it acts as a safe haven for sanctioned individuals, days after a luxury yacht connected to a sanctioned Russian tycoon docked in the city. (TVB via AP, File) (Uncredited/TVB)

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The US warned Hong Kong that assisting sanctioned individuals could threaten its status as a financial hub, after a megayacht linked to one of Russia’s richest men docked in the city’s harbor. 

The $500 million Nord vessel tied to tycoon Alexey Mordashov arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday, after making a week-long voyage from the Russian city of Vladivostok. Mordashov, believed to be an ally of President Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned by the European Union, the UK and the US following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

“The possible use of Hong Kong as a safe haven by individuals evading sanctions from multiple jurisdictions further calls into question the transparency of the business environment,” a US State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. 

The city’s reputation as a financial center depends on its adherence to international laws and standards, the spokesperson added. 

 

 

[Randy W]

 

Chinese heater factories are making a killing as Europe prepares for winter amid gas shortage

Chinese heater suppliers are working overtime as Europe prepares for winter amid a gas shortage.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/1366812777406917/

[Randy W]

Xi continues his tap-dance with Russia around the Ukraine issue

China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Medvedev discuss Ukraine at surprise meet

A top official from Russia has made a surprise visit to Beijing, where he discussed issues including the war in Ukraine with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/1525872261226417/

 

China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Medvedev discuss Ukraine at surprise meet

A top official from Russia has made a surprise visit to Beijing, where he discussed issues including the war in Ukraine with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Posted by South China Morning Post on Wednesday, December 21, 2022

 

[Randy W]

It's un clear if there's any significance to this at all, but I think China IS strained by Russia's actions in Ukraine

Xi Jinping ‘demands Vladimir Putin to explain when the Ukraine war will end’

news.com.au  Dec 23, 2022
Chinese president Xi Jinping demanded a written explanation from Vladimir Putin on how and when he intends to end the war with Ukraine, it has been claimed.

FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/3HYcy7J

Xi Jinping ‘demands letter from Vladimir Putin explaining how and when the Ukraine war will end’
Chinese president Xi Jinping demanded a written explanation from Vladimir Putin on how and when he intends to end the war with Ukraine, it has been claimed.

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Beijing urges West to ‘stop throwing blame at China’ over Ukraine

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang urged the West on February 21, 2023, not to use the Ukraine war to put pressure on China, as the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbour approaches. Read more: https://sc.mp/zwic

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/524126323196801/

 

 

Beijing urges West to ‘stop throwing blame at China’ over Ukraine

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang urged the West on February 21, 2023, not to use the Ukraine war to put pressure on China, as the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of its neighbour approaches. Read more: https://sc.mp/zwic

Posted by South China Morning Post on Tuesday, February 21, 2023

 

[Randy W]

Russia invaded Ukraine 1 year ago. What has happened so far?

February 24, 2023 marks one year since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops over the border into Ukraine for a “special military operation”. The Post looks back at the key developments since Russia invaded Ukraine.

from the SCMP

 

[Randy W]

U.S. Considers Release of Intelligence on China’s Potential Arms Transfer to Russia
Western nations have intelligence that Beijing might end its self-imposed restraint on weapons supplies to Moscow

from the WSJ (paywalled)

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The Biden administration is considering releasing intelligence it believes shows that China is weighing whether to supply weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. officials said.

The discussions on public disclosure come ahead of Friday’s United Nations Security Council meeting marking one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. It follows a number of closed-door appeals to China—coordinated among North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies—that culminated in a formal warning delivered over the weekend in Munich to Wang Yi, China’s senior foreign-policy official, by a number of Western officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

Mr. Blinken went public with his warning after the meeting, saying in an interview with CBS News that China is seriously exploring supplying arms to Russia.

 . . .

The warning in Munich followed a number of private appeals to China. It was coordinated among the Western allies in the hope that it would stop Beijing from taking the irrevocable step of starting to supply weapons, the officials said.

 . . .

“It’s not an issue of technology,” said Vasily Kashin, a China specialist and the director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. “It’s primarily an issue of production capacity. And in terms of production capacity, China, in many aspects, especially if we talk about ground-forces weapons, might be stronger than Russia and the whole of NATO combined.”

 . . .

Beijing has said it would release on Feb. 24, the one-year anniversary of the invasion, details of a proposal to bring peace in Ukraine, though the notion of China acting as a mediator has been met with deep skepticism in the U.S. and Europe.

Western analysts doubt China’s ability to be a credible mediator in the conflict, pointing to its obvious bias toward Russia. Since the Russian invasion, Mr. Xi has yet to talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while he has spoken with Mr. Putin multiple times during the period.

 

 

[Randy W]

China's white paper on the Ukraine war. It does not address Ukraine's concern about Russia's occupation of eastern territories of Ukraine which Russia considers its own "sovereign territory". Ukraine is already living under a "peace agreement" with Russia, including the promise that Russia will respect Ukrainian sovereignty in return for the surrender of Ukrain's nuclear weapons.

CGTN has had Ukrainian members orf parliament on who replied (last year) the "Russia wants to kill us. We want to stay alive. There IS no compromise."

from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

 

China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis

2023-02-24 09:00

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2. Abandoning the Cold War mentality. The security of a country should not be pursued at the expense of others. The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly. There is no simple solution to a complex issue. All parties should, following the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and bearing in mind the long-term peace and stability of the world, help forge a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. All parties should oppose the pursuit of one’s own security at the cost of others’ security, prevent bloc confrontation, and work together for peace and stability on the Eurasian Continent.

3. Ceasing hostilities. Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control. All parties should support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible, so as to gradually deescalate the situation and ultimately reach a comprehensive ceasefire. 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

How one year of the Ukraine war has impacted mainland China - and Taiwan

from Shea Driscoll, SCMP   (email newsletter)

Dear reader,

One year after Vladimir Putin’s Russia invaded Ukraine, the war rages on, having killed tens of thousands of people on both sides, and displaced millions more. No resolution appears in sight, with experts warning that the conflict could drag on for years, and that a more disastrous phase could come. 

Marking the anniversary, China released a position paper calling peace talks “the only viable solution to ending the Ukraine crisis”. That came as US Secretary of State  Antony Blinken reiterated a claim that Beijing was mulling providing lethal aid to Russia, a claim China has denied.

Over the past week, the Post has launched a multimedia series looking at China’s response to the conflict, and the impact it has had on both Beijing and Taipei. Here are some of the highlights.

 

 

How China’s energy outlook has been reshaped

With no end in sight to the war, there is one foregone conclusion that affects almost every country in the world: it has profoundly reshaped the global energy market.

The Russian invasion and subsequent Western sanctions have heaped enormous strain on oil and gas markets, put climate goals on the back burner, and forced nations to re-evaluate long-standing supply relationships.

For China, the world’s largest energy importer and consumer, the long-term outcome is still murky.

Read more.

 

[Randy W]

Russia shoots down China's peace plan for the Ukraine war as Beijing becomes more entangled in the conflict a year into the fighting

Chinese buyers of Russian oil are seeking to avoid reputation damage, one analyst said.ALEXEI DRUZHININ/Getty Images

from Business Insider via Yahoo News

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"We paid a lot of attention to our Chinese friends' plan," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday, per the Moscow Times. "For now, we don't see any of the conditions that are needed to bring this whole story towards peace," he added.

This development came after the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday thanked Beijing for the new proposal but underscored that any peace deal would need to recognize "new territorial realities" in Ukraine.

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions and claimed them as part of Russia. Moscow also claims control over Crimea, a peninsula on the Black Sea that Russia illegally annexed after invading Ukraine in 2014.

Ukraine has maintained it would not agree to any peace deal requiring it to cede territory to Russia. China's peace plan calls for the territorial integrity of all countries to be upheld but does not push for Russian troops to leave occupied Ukrainian territories.

 . . .

US President Joe Biden in an interview that aired on Sunday told ABC that China's plan would overwhelmingly benefit Russia. "I've seen nothing in the plan that would indicate that there is something that would be beneficial to anyone other than Russia if the Chinese plan were followed," Biden said.

 

 

[Randy W]

Daily Briefing: War in Ukraine
China Hosts President of Belarus as U.S. Worries Russia’s Allies Are Getting Closer

Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Tuesday.Credit...Thibault Camus/Associated Press

from the NY Times

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The United States is framing a visit to China by President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus as a sign of Beijing’s support for the war in Ukraine and an attempt by two of Russia’s closest allies to strengthen ties.

The three-day trip, during which Mr. Lukashenko is expected to meet with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, “is just another element of the P.R.C.’s deepening engagement with Russia, with all of those who are engaged with and supporting Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine,” Ned Price, the State Department spokesman, said on Monday, using an abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China.

 . . .

“Western media outlets still view this visit through a biased lens, describing Belarus as Russia’s ‘little ally’ and suggesting that China’s ‘expanding influence’ should be a cause for concern,” read a Global Times editorial.

Mr. Lukashenko’s trip follows other recent visits by authoritarian leaders including President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran and Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia. Iran has provided unmanned drones that Russia uses to attack Ukraine, something the Biden administration has tried to thwart.

 

 

[Randy W]

How the EU-China relationship became a casualty of Russia’s war in Ukraine

• Russia’s invasion, and Beijing’s perceived support for Moscow, have overshadowed everything else for the past 12 months
• Western Europe still seems keen to maintain strong ties, but central and eastern Europe say Beijing has not delivered on investments

from the SCMP

 

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The Europeans raise Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They ask China to use its influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin to help bring the war to an end, emphasising Beijing’s special responsibilities as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and urge it not to send military support.

The Chinese say the war is not their business, that they have no sway over Putin, and that they support a peaceful settlement, before laying the blame for the conflict largely at the feet of the United States and Nato, echoing Putin’s rationale for the invasion.

Only once these awkward exchanges have taken place can other matters be discussed. According to officials and diplomats, the dynamic plays out at every level from the top down, from discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and European Council president Charles Michel in December, to talks between Beijing’s envoy for central and eastern Europe Jiang Yu and mid-ranking diplomats last year.

 . . .

Things took a rockier turn last week, however, when Brussels appeared exasperated by a Chinese position paper for peace in Ukraine that it said ignored Kyiv’s basic requirements.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen implied that China was not a neutral party in the conflict.
“You have to see [the paper] against a specific backdrop. And that is the backdrop that China has taken a side by signing an unlimited friendship right before invasion of Ukraine started,” she said, referring to a cooperation agreement signed by Xi and Putin in Beijing on February 6 last year.

“So we will look at the principles of course, but we will look at them against the backdrop that China has taken sides.”

 

 

[Randy W]

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at the Kremlin on his arrival in Moscow on Monday.
When Xi reached the Kremlin, he was greeted by the Kremlin Commandant at the alighting point. Putin warmly shook hands and took photos with Xi. The two presidents had an in-depth and candid exchange on China-Russia relations and issues of mutual interest.
Xi stressed that there is a profound historical logic for China-Russia relationship to reach where it is today. China and Russia are each other's biggest neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination. Both countries see their relationship as a high priority in their overall diplomacy and policy on external affairs.
China always upholds an independent foreign policy. To consolidate and develop well China-Russia relations is a strategic choice China has made on the basis of its own fundamental interests and the prevailing trends of the world, said Xi.
China is firm in keeping to the general direction of strengthening strategic coordination with Russia, Xi said, adding that both China and Russia are committed to realizing national development and rejuvenation, support world multi-polarity and work for greater democracy in international relations.

from China Pictorial on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaPic/posts/pfbid0hN3FEnMvjMsKcNowAtY3tTuHK6NnN3hZyYEP3aXJd6yMTKUqdx23PF1s7mkv7sptl

 

Apparently, they have a joint statement on the Ukraine War.

[Randy W]

Without a clause to require the Russians to leave, any peace proposal is a non-starter for Ukraine. They are currently living under TWO "peace" agreements with Russia. An agreement brokered by China is probably a non-starter for Russia as well, because of China's core values of territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

What is — and isn’t — in the joint statement from Putin and Xi

https://d21rhj7n383afu.cloudfront.net/washpost-production/Jason_Aldag/20220204/61fda39f4cedfd00019accdb/61fda3a4d601800011493ad3/file_640x360-600-v3.mp4

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Not in the statement: Ukraine
The English version of the joint statement runs a whopping 5,364 words — but none of those words is “Ukraine.” Analysts say the omission probably reflects China’s unwillingness to support a Russian invasion of its neighbor to the west.

“China doesn’t want to throw its weight to say it supports Russia’s actions on Ukraine, because it doesn’t,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Moscow Center.

In the statement: NATO
Perhaps the most notable part of the statement is when China explicitly backs Russia to “oppose further enlargement of NATO,” a reference to Ukraine’s efforts to join the alliance. China also echoed Putin’s earlier demands for “long-term legally binding security guarantees in Europe.”

Resisting Western influence is something Moscow and Beijing can get behind. The statement also criticizes U.S. military expansion in the Indo-Pacific and through AUKUS, a trilateral security agreement comprising Australia, Britain and the United States. That pact includes what the three nations said is a “shared ambition” to support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.

Xi and Putin said Friday that such initiatives will “increase the danger of an arms race in the region.”

Not in the statement: ‘Alliance’
China and Russia do not have a formal alliance. The informality of their pact means that they’re only fair-weather friends: One won’t necessarily go to war just because the other does. But the two are increasingly finding common cause in battling the West.

Their statement suggests that this bond is only deepening, with the two leaders calling the partnership “superior to political and military alliances of the Cold War era.” There are “no limits” or “forbidden” areas of cooperation, it says — meaning joint military action is not off the table.

In the statement: Democracy
The two leaders sketched out a shared vision of universal values that diverges from the Western worldview.

 

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)