As with so many of the People's Republic of China's (PRC) solutions to global problems, the latest twelve-point plan for peace in Ukraine is a lot of high-sounding words with no substance. Beijing’s unsolicited proposal, entitled China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, is more about self-promotion than peace. Moreover, the close relationship between Russia and China makes any notion that the plan would provide an adequate measure of justice to Ukraine quite fanciful.
China Plan Has No Substantive Value
The Chinese Communist Party's attempt to sucker in the reader begins with a "rainbows and unicorns" statement that is specious at best. Point number one is typical of what follows:
"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. All parties should jointly uphold the basic norms governing international relations and defend international fairness and justice."
Many pundits believe China could have stopped with the first point. In fact, if Russia had adopted the first point over a year ago, there would have been no crisis. However, underlying the CCP's doctrinaire paper is the provocative idea the crisis in Ukraine is a shared responsibility. Having watched the buildup of Russian infantry, armor, and artillery for nearly a year and then an unprovoked invasion across Ukraine by soldiers and paramilitary forces, the claim of shared responsibility stretches credulity. The document gives Russia a pass on starting the war but distributes accountability among all the nations involved.
Statements in the document resurrecting Beijing's tried-and-failed talking points like "Abandoning the Cold War mentality," establish the disingenuous nature of "China's position." In stark contrast, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement clarifying where America stood. He said, "President Putin started this illegal war, and he has the power to end it." So, what is the PRC's game in presenting the twelve-point "plan" for stopping the Russia-initiated conflict?
"I think it is about China's establishing itself in the minds of the world as a great power, a peace broker, someone that everyone has to take into account. And, in some ways supplanting the United States," Kurt Volker, former special representative for Ukraine, told Fox News. "The US, I think rightly, has sided with Ukraine in this. But that creates an opportunity for China to position itself as an honest broker." On the other hand, those less willing to resist President Xi Jinping’s and the PRC's global aspirations want the US and NATO to show deference toward the China proposal.
US Ignores Warnings to be Cautious
The Associated Press reported,"[S]ome observers warned that Ukraine and its allies need to tread carefully, saying that rejection of what China sees as its peace overture could move Beijing closer toward providing arms to Russia instead.” However, the US is not taking the bait. When questioned about the Chinese peace proposal by a major US media outlet, President Joe Biden dismissed the Chinese overture. "If Putin is applauding it, how could it be any good?" Biden told ABC News. "The idea that China is going to be negotiating the outcome of a war that is a totally unjust war for Ukraine is just not rational," he continued.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) echoed the assessment of the PRC's initiative. "The Chinese peace plan is unlikely to be a serious blueprint for a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine," the ISW explained in its latest dispatch covering the conflict. With the US not taking the proposal for a cessation of hostilities seriously and Russia continuing its onslaught in Ukraine, China's aim for prominence on the world stage as a peace broker may not hit the mark. The real question is, if not taking up the China proposal pushes Russia and China closer together, is the West any worse off? Probably not. The US has made perfectly clear to the Chinese regime that Beijing providing Moscow lethal aid to replace lost weapons and equipment in Ukraine will result in "serious consequences" for the PRC.
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliation.
