German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens global security, in an apparent call for China to apply greater pressure on its neighbor and close strategic partner to resolve the conflict. Scholz also said the use of nuclear weapons in the two-year-old war should not even … Read more
Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Tuesday in a sign of mutual support and shared opposition to Western democracies amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “We would like to express our highest appreciation and admiration for the successes that you have achieved over the years and, above all, over the last … Read more
“Starting from March 2, Special Representative of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui will visit Russia, the EU headquarters, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and France for the second round of shuttle diplomacy on seeking a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced at a press conference this week. As anticipation … Read more
“In the Ukraine War, China Is the Only Winner.” This observation served as the title of an article published in May 2023 by The National Interest. Although that sentiment is not a widely held consensus in Europe, it well summarizes an idea circulating across the Atlantic on the benefits that China can derive from the war in Ukraine: Both … Read more
Multiple news articles report Beijing snubbing Ukraine during the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Switzerland, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang refusing to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In response, Zelenskyy clarified that he never wanted to meet Li, suggesting that the latter was not high-ranking enough to be worth meeting. “There is a … Read more
When the leaders of EU countries gather in Brussels for a summit on December 14 and 15, they will turn to their two most trusted representatives for advice on whether to impose further sanctions on Chinese companies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel have just returned from a … Read more
Does China value its relationship with Europe? Given the significance of mutual economic ties – second only to those with the United States – the answer should be an unambiguous yes. But Beijing’s diplomacy toward the continent says otherwise. Despite numerous high-profile visits to China by European leaders, from France’s Emmanuel Macron to Germany’s Olaf … Read more
China-U.S. relations are once again having a moment. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the United States produced several meetings, including with President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Sports re-emerged as a potent element in China-U.S. relations, as Xi appeared genuinely pleased to receive a gift of a basketball jersey (with the … Read more
U.S. President Joe Biden participates in a bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine during the G77 Summit, at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21, 2023, Credit: Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith “Supporting Ukraine’s ability to fight off Russian aggression and defend its sovereignty requires a worldwide commitment,” U.S. … Read more
China’s policy regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict is stated in the 12 points of “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis,” released in February 2023. As an interim step, cooling down, deescalation, and ceasefire constitute the basic direction of China’s policy. Among the opposing views concerning the reasons for the outbreak of the … Read more