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MUNICH – China is seeking to drive a new rift between Europe and the United States as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passes its one-year mark.
China’s newly promoted foreign policy chief Wang Yi had aim when he reported at the Munich security conference on Saturday that President Xi Jinping would soon present a “peace proposal” for what Beijing calls the conflict – not war – between Moscow and Kiev. . And he explicitly urged his European audience to get overboard and shun the Americans.
In a keynote speech, Wang specifically appealed to the European leaders gathered in the room.
“We need to think calmly, especially our friends in Europe, what efforts should be made to prevent war; what should be the framework to bring about a lasting peace in Europe; What role should Europe play to reveal its strategic autonomy,” said Wang, who will continue his Europe tour with a stop in Moscow.
In contrast, Wang launched an outspoken attack on the “weak” Washington’s “near-hysterical” response to Chinese balloons over US airspace, portraying the country as war-mongering.
“Some forces may not want to see the peace talks materialize,” he said, widely interpreted as a reference to the US. “They don’t care about the life and death of Ukrainians, [nor] Damage over Europe. His strategic goals may be bigger than Ukraine. This war should not continue.
Yet at the conference, Europe showed no sign of distancing itself from the US or withdrawing military support for Ukraine. Olaf Scholz, the once hesitant German Chancellor to plead Europe will give Ukraine even more modern tanks. And French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the idea of immediate peace talks with the Kremlin.
And, predictably, there was widespread skepticism that China’s idea of ”peace” would match Europe’s.
“China has not been able to condemn the aggression,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a group of reporters. Beijing’s peace plan, he said, is “quite vague.” The NATO chief stressed that peace is possible only if Russia respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Europe watches warily
The delicate dance that China has been trying to pull off since the war began can be summed up by Wang’s proposal.
Keen to ensure that Russia will not be weakened in the long run, Beijing has offered much-needed diplomatic support to Vladimir Putin, while steering clear of any direct military aid that could undermine its economic and economic ties with the world. Will attract Western sanctions against trade relations.
“We will put forward China’s position on the political solution to the Ukraine crisis and remain in favor of peace and dialogue,” Wang said. “We do not add fuel to the fire, and we are against profiting from this crisis.”
According to Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who met Wang earlier this week, Xi will present his “peace proposal” on Friday, the first anniversary of the war.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Wang in Munich. He said he hoped to have “frank” talks with Beijing’s envoy.
“We believe that adherence to the principle of territorial integrity is China’s fundamental interest in the international arena,” Kuleba told reporters in Munich. “And a commitment to the observance and protection of this principle is a driving force for China, more so than any other argument offered by Ukraine, the United States or any other country.”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is also expected to meet Wang later on Saturday.
Many in Munich were wary of the upcoming Chinese plan.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Bierbock welcomed China’s attempt to use its influence to promote peace, but told reporters she “spoke intensively” with Wang during a bilateral meeting on Friday about what a peace Means: not to reward the aggressor, the aggressor, but to stand up for international law and for those who have been attacked.
“A just peace,” she said, “presupposes that the party that violated the territorial integrity—meaning Russia—withdraws its troops from the occupied country.”
One reason for Europe’s concerns is that the Chinese peace plan could undermine a UN effort to support a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is due to be presented at the UN General Assembly next week, according to three European officials and diplomats. will be on the agenda.
Taiwan issue escalates US-China tensions
If China wants to talk about peace in Ukraine, it is more reluctant to do so in a matter closer to its own country.
When Wolfgang Ischinger, the veteran German diplomat behind the conference, asked Wang if he could assure the audience that Beijing was not planning an imminent military escalation against Taiwan, the Chinese envoy was non-committal.
“I assure the audience that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. It has never been a country and will never be a country in future.’
concern about taiwan echoed in speech From NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said “What is happening in Europe today could be happening in East Asia tomorrow.” Reminding the audience of the painful experience of being dependent on Russia for energy supplies, he said: “We must not make the same mistakes with China and other authoritarian regimes.”
But China’s loudest attack was reserved for the US, calling its decision to shoot down Chinese and other balloons “absurd” and “almost-hysterical”. Wang said: “It doesn’t show America is strong; its On the contrary, it shows that it is weak.
Wang also extended the message in other bilateral meetings, including one with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “America’s prejudice and ignorance against China has reached a ridiculous level,” he said. “America … has to stop this kind of absurd chatter for domestic political needs.”
It is unclear whether Wang will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Germany, as has been discussed,
Hans von der Burchard and Lily Bayer reported from Munich and Stuart Lau from Brussels,