International relations US and EU seek new position on China stuck on Russia’s side – ‘China’s vision is shaken’

Abroad|International relations

Beijing

China made a big mistake when the Chinese leader Xi Jinping swore friendship with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin with Beijing just before the outbreak of the Ukrainian war.

This is a widely shared view among those in power in Washington, said a Chinese scholar and analyst familiar with the U.S. administration. Jude Blanchette with a remote lecture for journalists on Thursday.

“Xi Jinping has probably made his biggest foreign policy blunder by allying with Putin on the eve of Russia’s attack.”

According to Blanchette, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s unpunished attitude towards it are reshaping the rest of the world’s relationship with China as well.

“It’s been fascinating to talk to numerous people in a week [Washingtonissa olevien] with embassies and some visiting foreign leaders. Everyone thinks that China’s vision is changing. ”

Is it is still unclear where the change will lead in practice, as the world political situation is living at a rapid pace every day.

According to Blanchette, there was still a school in Washington three weeks ago that wanted to separate China and Russia as far apart as possible.

Now, in the same circles, the debate is hot over whether China should start to be tied to Russia, Blanchette said.

Underlying this is probably the idea that China, which is at odds with Russia, is suffering badly.

In recent years, China has spectacularly challenged U.S. economic, ideological, and military power. The United States is diligently putting it on its feet so as not to lose its position as world leader.

Authoritarian China and Russia have become very close in recent years. In early February, the leaders of the countries declared close cooperation and understanding of each other’s security concerns.

At the same time, Russia transferred a huge amount of troops to Ukraine’s borders.

Since the Russian invasion, China has refused to call the attack an attack. China is trying to balance by not taking a proper stand on the war, but in balancing it has practically sided with Russia.

This makes a large part of the rest of the world see red.

The situation did not improve The New York Times news that China would have asked Russia not to start military action before the Beijing Olympics end.

So China would have had some knowledge of Russia’s intentions in advance.

China has vehemently denied the magazine’s claims.

If China had really received clues from Russia about its intentions and did not try to stop it, China’s position in the eyes of the rest of the world would continue to deteriorate.

Blanchette, of course, does not know how the pattern actually progressed, but his enlightened guesswork is as follows:

Russia told China something in advance. Xi believed Russia would make a quick operation in a few days and the world’s reactions would be similar to Russia’s takeover of Crimea. That is, very sustainable, and not so apt for China.

The unity of the West, the extent and toughness of sanctions thus came as a surprise to both Russia and China. Similarly, major world political developments, such as the entry into force of NATO and Germany’s decision to significantly increase funding for the armed forces.

This is all bad news for China. They may also weaken Xin’s position within the Chinese Communist Party and in the country’s leadership.

Now China is trying to soften its situation, for example, by hinting that it is ready to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, Blanchette said.

He does not “believe at all” from a peace mediator coming from China.

“It’s not a virtually neutral party.”

Blanchette stated immediately afterwards that, on the other hand, in times of such significant events, unexpected things can also happen.

At least the French ambassador to China and some parts of the EU have seen China as a potential mediator in the ceasefire.

On the other hand, anonymous diplomatic sources in the EU said To the South China Morning Post considers China unreliable and expectations of its peace mediation zero. Anyway, China got a lot of shouts from EU circles in the article.