Wang Huiyao, adviser to the Chinese State Council and chairman of the CGG
Beijing could mediate in a war that puts at risk its vision of a vertebrate world “on economic development and not military power”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is against China’s interests. However, Beijing is a “strategic partner” of Moscow and has outlined with leaders such as Vladimir Putin an axis of global power that rivals that of Western powers. For this reason, the second world power is forced to navigate cautiously between two blocks. However, this position is precisely what can make it the most suitable mediator in the Ukrainian conflict. “We have very important interests in Europe, which is our main trading partner, and we have good relations with both Ukraine and Russia,” said Wang Huiyao, adviser to the Chinese State Council and president of the Center for China and Globalization (CGG). .
“We respect the sovereignty of all countries, Ukraine is no exception, and we do not have a military alliance with Russia. Our interest is that the situation be resolved peacefully,” he stresses in one of the few interviews granted by relevant academics from the Chinese governmental sphere after the outbreak of the war. But Wang acknowledges that a dangerous escalation cannot be ruled out.
– China maintains an ambiguous position that worries many. What does the conflict mean to you?
– I don’t think there is any ambiguity. It must be understood that China’s interests are eminently economic. It is the second power, contributes a third of world growth, and has launched initiatives that promote global development, such as the Eurasian train -which reaches Madrid- or the Belt and Road -to structure the world in an alternative way, giving more voice to developing countries. China has gained enormous economic influence through all kinds of trade agreements with almost the entire world, also in Africa and Latin America, and advocates greater cohesion. Both for that and because of its neutrality in this crisis, I think it can act as a stabilizer.
the trigger
“I don’t blame the war on Ukraine, but NATO has gotten too close to Russia these years”
– Ukraine has requested your mediation, do you think it is possible?
– Yes. China is promoting diplomacy and negotiation to resolve the conflict, and I think it can be a good mediator. It even seems to me that Beijing could be a good place to conduct five-way negotiations, with Ukraine, Russia, the United States, the EU and China sitting at the table.
I support Putin
– However, messages in favor of Ukraine are censored on Chinese social networks and Putin receives very clear support.
– The problem is that these networks host many nationalist and populist elements. And it is also true that many are aware of the threats and criticisms that the United States has constantly launched against China. Trump positioned us as his number one strategic rival, even ahead of Russia, and now some Chinese applaud the invasion of Ukraine because they interpret it as a blow against the United States, which, when it chooses to contain our development, seems to be interested in pushing us towards an alliance with Putin. It is a great strategic error of the West: China is not Russia. We have very different cultures and values. In fact, we have historically suffered from Russian expansionism, which took thousands of square kilometers of territory from us.
– How concerned are you that the crisis will affect China?
– We are very concerned, no less than Europe. We are even talking about a possible nuclear war that could turn the world upside down and undo everything we have achieved!
– In this hypothetical apocalyptic scenario, with whom would China fight?
– (Laughs and pauses) China is concerned, first of all, about its survival, so the question should be asked of the United States and Europe. It would depend on whether they still consider us an enemy or not.
Putin’s mistake
“It looks like an invasion and I can tell. It can be interpreted in many ways, but it is not the first time that Russia has invaded another country.
– China emphasizes that it seeks a multipolar world, but it seems that we are moving towards a bipolar order like the one that existed with the Soviet Union.
– I think we need to listen to all voices. It is true that this process that you mention is taking place, but we are facing a new world order that is more economic than political. At least, that is what China promotes with its growing participation in multilateral organizations. The goal is to create a new economic system that is more inclusive. Ironically, the United States at the head of the Western bloc has a different vision: it promotes the expansion of NATO and establishes military alliances such as AUKUS -with Australia and the United Kingdom and with China in the target- or the Quad -with India and Japan-. That world will not work. This attitude has led to the situation we have today.
Economics versus warmongering
– Do you blame NATO for the invasion?
– He’s partly to blame. Like Russia, which has done poorly after years of frustration. This could have been avoided if we all advocated, as China does with its initiatives, economic cooperation similar to that represented by the Marshall Plan to build a prosperous Europe. The efforts we put into creating military alliances would be much better served by putting them into trade and development alliances.
– But if we accept that Ukraine is a sovereign country, shouldn’t we accept that it freely decides to join NATO?
– Sure, Ukraine can make such a decision. But, as Clinton, Kerry or Kissinger are reflecting these days, we must bear in mind that, after the fall of the Soviet Union, the West adopted a confrontational posture with Russia, rejected its rapprochement with Europe, and NATO welcomed some of its the former Soviet republics. It is logical that Moscow feels insecure. After all, the United States is the one that leads that alliance. I don’t blame Ukraine, but NATO has gotten too close to Russia.
– China often criticizes that the United States shoots first and asks questions later. Isn’t Putin doing the same?
– Exactly. Russia is making the same mistake in Ukraine as the United States in Afghanistan or Syria. The invasion has not been an intelligent decision.
– It is surprising that you use the word invasion, which Chinese leaders avoid.
– I am not a politician and I see what is happening. It looks like an invasion and I can tell. It can be interpreted in many ways, but it is not the first time that Russia has invaded another country.
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