China, at UN, warns against ‘expansion of the battlefield’ in Ukraine war
Three days before its government marks 75 years of Communist rule, China’s foreign minister warned fellow leaders Saturday against an “expansion of the battlefield” in Russia’s war with Ukraine. He stated that the Beijing government remains committed to shuttle diplomacy and efforts to push the conflict toward resolution.
“The top priority is to prevent any expansion of the battlefield. China is committed to playing a constructive role,” Wang Yi said. He cautioned other nations against “throwing oil on the fire or exploiting the situation for selfish gains,” likely alluding to the United States.
Wang’s speech did not break new ground, reflecting China’s typical stance at the U.N. General Assembly’s annual meeting of world leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping has not attended the assembly in person for several years, with his last participation in 2021 being virtual due to the pandemic.
On Friday, during meetings on the sidelines of the assembly, China and Brazil sought to build support for their peace plan for Ukraine. They announced that about a dozen countries had signed a communique acknowledging their six-point plan, which includes holding a peace conference with both Ukraine and Russia and calls for no expansion of the battlefield.
Ukrainian officials have been dismissive of the proposal. However, the countries that signed the communique are forming a group called “friends for peace,” with their U.N. ambassadors continuing the dialogue. The members of this group, which include countries from Algeria to Zambia, are predominantly from Africa or Latin America. Wang emphasized that the group does not dictate individual countries’ policies.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference Saturday that Russia is ready to provide assistance and advice to the group, adding that it is crucial for their proposals to be grounded in reality rather than abstract discussions.
Sovereignty has long been a key talking point for China
China, an ally of Russia, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of respecting nations’ sovereignty. Russia has been accused of violating the U.N. Charter by Secretary-General António Guterres, the United States, and many other countries, though Moscow maintains that its “special military operation” is an act of self-defense, permitted under the U.N. Charter.
China’s firm stance on respecting other nations’ sovereignty is central to its foreign policy and is a foundational principle for a government that has faced challenges in maintaining control in regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as in territories like Hong Kong and Taiwan.
China’s current government was established on October 1, 1949, when communist revolutionary Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square following a civil war with Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government. The Nationalists fled to Taiwan, where they established a self-governing island, a situation China considers temporary for territory it deems sovereign.
“There is no such thing as two Chinas or one China-one Taiwan. On this matter, there is no gray area,” Wang said. “Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland. This is an inevitable trend of history that no one can stop.”
Taiwan, under the government established by Chiang Kai-shek, was a member of the United Nations until 1971, when the U.N. recognized the Beijing government. Since then, China has worked to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, rewarding nations that recognize it and often penalizing those that do not. At each General Assembly, leaders from nations that support Taiwan, usually smaller countries, voice their frustrations about the island’s exclusion from the international community.
Wang addresses a range of global issues
In addition to Ukraine, Wang also shared China’s positions on tensions in the Middle East and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, both of which are strategic priorities for Beijing.
MIDDLE EAST: Wang reiterated China’s support for Palestinian statehood and full U.N. membership, saying that “the question of Palestine is the biggest wound in human conscience.” He emphasized that a two-state solution is “the fundamental way forward,” though he did not mention Israel by name or directly reference the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
KOREAN PENINSULA: Wang expressed support for transitioning from an armistice to a peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula. The two Koreas have technically remained in a state of war since the 1950-53 conflict. China has long supported North Korea, while the U.S. is a close ally of South Korea. Wang also offered a veiled warning against external interference, saying, “We are firmly against the meddling of countries outside the region.”
HUMAN RIGHTS: Wang defended China’s approach to human rights, stating that “no country should interfere in another’s internal affairs in the name of human rights,” and asserting that China had chosen its own path, which is just as legitimate as any other.
“We have found a path of human rights development that suits China’s national conditions,” Wang said.
However, China has faced widespread criticism from other nations and international human rights organizations over its treatment of Tibetans, ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and activists in Hong Kong.
Credit: AP News
