Advertisement Russia’s decision not to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict has raised further concerns about grain and fertilizer prices. As the world’s largest food importer, food security has always been a top concern for China, and even more so amid the current global food crisis. In recent years, a … Read more
Advertisement In early February 2022, several weeks before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Beijing. where he signed a joint statement with Chinese President Xi Jinping that announced that there were “no limits” and “no forbidden areas of cooperation” between the two states. These references, however, were omitted in … Read more
China Power | Economy | East Asia China’s domestic economic realities are colliding with Xi’s geopolitical ambitions and impacting Beijing’s Russia policy. Advertisement The Chinese economy is in trouble. Weak investment and consumer spending – what some have termed a “general erosion of public faith” – is compounding other, structural problems in the Chinese economy. A China-led global slowdown … Read more
The Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Sep. 2, 2022. Credit: IAEA Advertisement After several days of heightened concern about a possible Russian attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in late June and early July, such a provocative action appears increasingly unlikely. Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Major General Kyrylo Budanov, said on July … Read more
Advertisement Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought major complications for China’s foreign policy. In the face of strong international demands for Beijing to influence Moscow’s policies and uncertain regional geopolitics, Chinese policymakers have struggled to find the positioning that best serves China’s national interests. Further complicating the situation, the unsuccessful rebellion initiated by the paramilitary organization … Read more
Advertisement June 24 saw the swift beginning and end of a puzzling series of events in Russia. The mercurial Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the private military contractor Wagner Group, announced that his fighters would be undertaking what he termed a “march for justice” aimed squarely against the “incompetence” of the leadership of the Russian Ministry … Read more
Advertisement Germany’s chancellor pressed China to lean harder on Russia over its war in Ukraine on Tuesday, while leaders from both countries pledged to work together to combat climate change as two of the world’s biggest carbon dioxide emitters. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and about half of his Cabinet hosted a delegation led by Chinese Premier … Read more
Advertisement China’s Ukraine envoy called on other governments Friday to “stop sending weapons to the battlefield” and appealed for peace talks at a time when Washington and its European allies are ramping up supplies of missiles and tanks to Ukrainian forces trying to recapture Russian-occupied territory. Li Hui said Russian and Ukrainian officials were open … Read more
Advertisement When I talk to European friends in Beijing, I am often asked what Chinese people “really think” of Ukraine war. It’s difficult to answer. I can only say that Chinese people have various ideas and do not fully support Russia or Ukraine. There are some polls that have aimed to get a more definitive … Read more
Advertisement China and India have maintained a neutral stance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly in order to avoid direct condemnation of Moscow. Beijing and New Delhi have close diplomatic ties with Russia and decided to maintain those relationships while adhering to their strategic interests in the region. As a result, both China and India … Read more