In particular, it has shattered previously close ties with Europe. Overall, the war is increasingly turning into a diplomatic disaster for Beijing, helping to drive perceptions of China to record lows around the world. Suggested reading Why Ukraine's counter-offensive is working Fast forward to today, however, and the protracted conflict, and the exposure of the Russian army’s simultaneous weakness and brutality, has turned into a serious headache for China. It’s possible this was the bright future Xi was told to expect when, just before the war, Putin met him in February and the two leaders signed a joint statement declaring there were now “no limits” to the China-Russia partnership. what Putin appears to have originally expected - would undoubtedly have been a big win for China, severely undermining the unity and influence of the Western liberal order that it also seeks to overturn. A short, sharp war that toppled the pro-Western Ukrainian government - i.e. The conflict has left Beijing in an exceptionally awkward position. Foreign Minister Wang Yi later pressed for mediation and “every effort to strive for peace” in the conflict, while China’s ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun urged de-escalation and “a political settlement as soon as possible”.Ĭhina’s frustration with Russia is clearly growing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin immediately called for a “ceasefire”. The mobilisation - along with accompanying threats to use nuclear weapons if Russian territory is endangered - is unlikely to have improved Xi’s mood. Instead, Putin has decided to escalate further, announcing the mobilisation of 300,000 reservists in an effort to salvage Russia’s position as its forces flounder in the face of a sweeping Ukrainian counter-offensive. Putin promised to better explain “our position on this issue, although we have talked about it before”. In a remarkable admission, Putin acknowledged that the Chinese leader had arrived with “questions and concerns” about the course of Russia’s war in Ukraine. By most accounts, the recent meeting in Uzbekistan between the two leaders, who once spoke of each other as “best friends” and “bosom buddies,” was frosty. After managing a strained smile and handshake for the cameras, President Xi Jinping walked away from Vladimir Putin with a face like stone.
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