War in Ukraine

What can China do about Ukraine and will it do it?

The horror of what is happening in Ukraine has focussed minds on China’s obligations.

Rashmee Roshan Lall

Mar 19, 2022 — 2 min read

The horror of what is happening in Ukraine has focussed minds on China’s obligations.

First published: March 2022.

After all, Russia has an “unlimited” partnership with China that’s just about a month old.

And for nearly 70 years, China has been committed to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. These include respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression and non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs.

Xtra | The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

“To carry forward the Five Principles in the promotion of world peace and development, the Chinese Government is ready to work with other countries in the following areas:
▫ First, firmly upholding the principle of sovereign equality.
▫ Second, respecting and maintaining the diversity of world's civilizations.
▫ Third, promoting common development of the world's economies on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
▫ Fourth, maintaining peace and security through dialog and cooperation.
▫ Fifth, giving full scope to the important role of the UN and other multilateral mechanisms.” (Source: China Embassy in Turkey)

China recently denied that Russia asked it for military equipment to support its invasion of Ukraine, news that’s been spread about by US officials. No one knows what’s true or not. China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, recently parleyed with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, presumably on this and other matters. China later said Mr Yang had urged all parties to exercise “maximum restraint” and protect civilians.

That’s anodyne to the point of useless.

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But economists such as Yale professor Stephen Roach argue that there is no room for China “to finesse” the conclusion that the buck stops with Beijing and that it has to end the war in Ukraine. That’s if China wants to remain true to its values, which include the Five Principles.

Mr Roach’s two recent pieces have argued powerfully for China to do the right thing. The first, Only China Can Stop Russia, made a strong case for Chinese intervention. The second, How China Can End the War in Ukraine, suggested actual steps to do so.

But the truth is nothing appears to be moving on this front, nearly three weeks into the tragedy that is playing out in Ukraine, leaving thousands dead and maimed and levelling cities.

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— AUTHOR —

▫ Rashmee Roshan Lall, Journalist by trade & inclination. World affairs columnist.
∞ www.rashmee.com

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Text: This piece was originally published in Medium and re-published in PMP Magazine on 19 March 2022, with the author’s consent. | The author writes in a personal capacity.