Beijing amends diplomatic strategy on Russia’s war against Ukraine
China has decided to shift its diplomatic strategy regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine while no radical change in their position regarding the war is being observed so far.
That’s according to a report by Reuters, seen by Ukrinform.
"China's decision to join international talks in Saudi Arabia this weekend seeking to end Russia's war in Ukraine signals possible shifts in Beijing's approach but not a U-turn in its support for Moscow," the report said, referring to analysts.
Beijing refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and did not join the previous round of peace talks in Denmark in June. However, analysts believe it is much more convenient for China to join peace efforts in Saudi Arabia, even if Russia is not present there and Ukraine is promoting its own plan at the summit.
"Beijing has been gearing more toward peace efforts but it also knows that a peace initiative led by Beijing is unlikely to be embraced by the West at this point," said Yun Sun, a director of the China programme at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.
But also, Beijing will not want to be absent from other credible peace initiatives led by non-Western nations, Yun Sun explained.
Beijing's latest move on the global diplomatic stage comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping grapples with a host of domestic issues, including the inexplicable replacement of Qin Gang as foreign minister last month and the sudden replacement of the top leadership of the People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force.
Shanghai-based international relations expert Shen Dingli noted that Moscow would eventually be defeated in the war so China should seek international cooperation, but not accelerate any collapse in Russia.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Saturday, August 5, the second meeting at the level of national security advisors and political directors on the key principles of peace based on the Peace Formula put forward by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine started in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Representatives of over 40 countries are taking part in the meeting.
According to the deputy head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Ihor Zhovkva, during the meeting, countries will take on responsibility for co-organization or co-leadership in one or another point of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.