Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
Yesterday I shared a Chinese position paper, “US Hegemony and Its Perils,” published by the MFA just a few days prior. Today, another MFA statement, this one published on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
There are other position papers recently published on the MFA web site. Taken as a whole in the context of current events — particularly the U.S. overreaction to the Chinese balloon incident, and Xi Jinping’s upcoming meeting with President Putin in Moscow — it appears that some sort of fundamental change in U.S./China relations is occurring. One commentator has even described the change as China declaring war on the U.S.
The present paper is more philosophical (or, ideological) than practical. Except in one respect.
Should the West reject China’s statement of principles, this will give China the legalistic excuse it may want to pick sides in the Ukraine conflict. From China’s perspective, joining Russia on the battlefield would shift its potential confrontation with the U.S. from Taiwan to Ukraine.
Put another way, China may regard Ukraine as a good laboratory for testing its military technology against the military technology of its most likely adversary.
Tidewater News and Opinion Forum 
Russia is egregiously violating China’s principle number 1.
If they give Russia any help of any kind they will be demonstrating a laughable lack of seriousness.
Of course China does not like sanctions because they know that should they attack Taiwan they can expect there to be very serious and impactful sanctions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
RE: “Russia is egregiously violating China’s principle number 1.”
That’s debatable, but hardly the point. We should ask China to clarify, rather than assume we can laugh at them.
LikeLike
“That’s debatable”
It absolutely is NOT debatable. Not in the least. Whatever excuses – real or imagined – Russia uses to justify its criminal war, it is in direct violation of what China says is the first principle of a settlement.
Here, read it again and try to understand it this time . . .
“1. Respecting the sovereignty of all countries. Universally recognized international law, including the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, must be strictly observed. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
You don’t get to say what words mean.
Russia’s invasion may or may not be a crime, according to international law.
LikeLike
“You don’t get to say what words mean.”
Of course not. And neither do you. China wrote its position with very clear words.
“The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld.”
Invading another country and setting up puppet governments in the captured territory is a violation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country invaded. Your silly quibbling about what this means in this situation is a joke. That makes you a very silly fellow, in my humble opinion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
RE: “Invading another country and setting up puppet governments in the captured territory is a violation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country invaded.”
Ukraine’s serial violations of the Minsk agreements forfeited its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. I take it that is the position China will take, if asked. If you can’t see that possibility because you insist on quibbling over semantics, then you are the silly person.
LikeLike
“Ukraine’s serial violations of the Minsk agreements forfeited its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Total horseshit. What a dandy little Putinista you are!
Even if I were dumb enoughe to accept that Ukraine was the one who violated the Minsk Accords – I am not – that was AFTER Russia had already violated the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Bottom line : You want us to take China’s conditions seriously but you want us to ignore the very first principle they ennunciated. Because you and your ilk hate democracy and you want Russia to succeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bottom line: I have provided you with material which documents China’s position on Ukraine. You should be thankful for my small effort on your behalf, but instead you waste our time with your insults.
LikeLike
“I have provided you with material which documents China’s position”…
Moving from, pro-Putin propaganda to Chinese Propaganda. Your love of Communist regimes is fully displayed.
Why do you hate democracy so much?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Insults?
Behave like a very silly fellow and be recognized as such.
I followed your link. I made a reasonable comment on the position that China expressed noting that their very first principle was something that Russia has already violated. You were just too silly to see the simple truth in what I said and chose to argue because you have no ability to be objective about Russia’s criminal behavior.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Russia’s invasion may or may not be a crime, according to international law.”
Can you verify that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The case hasn’t been tried, if that’s what you mean. I’m told, however, that Putin’s speech to the Duma a couple of days ago cited 30 specific provocations Russia believes justify its invasion.
I don’t think we have the luxury of assuming Russia must be wrong, just because we say so.
LikeLike
Anyone can justify any action, but that doesn’t make it right.
To invade a neighboring country, fail to achieve objectives, then purposefully destroying the infrastructure, housing, schools, hospitals because of un expected resistance by its people and incompetency by the invader is not up for vote.
Putin has no more right to invade a sovereign nation than we have to invade Canada. However, Putin doesn’t give a crap. So here we are.
LikeLiked by 2 people
…”that Putin’s speech to the Duma a couple of days ago cited 30 specific provocations Russia believes justify its invasion.”
Right. Spitting on Russia from afar because the Ukrainian people don’t want to be ruled by one of Putin’s cronies is a justification for invading Ukraine..
There are more truthful allegations of Russia’s war crimes than of the BS spread by Putin, attempting to prevent international court action against him.
Refer to the Murdaugh murder trial for similar references. The accused stated IN COURT that he lied to the police several times, but NOW he is telling the truth. Same concept.
LikeLiked by 1 person