Beijing has proposed a peace settlement plan that is completely unacceptable to MoscowIt has now been firmly forgotten how in 2008-2009 Moscow demanded that Europeans and Americans finally create a new unified system of European security.
No one, including the members of the CSTO, responded to her call, because no one, except Moscow itself, felt the need for such a system.
DOOM YOURSELF TO DEFEAT WITH YOUR OWN HANDSTherefore, after a year and a half of appeals, the corresponding Russian project appeared.
It was written by people who either completely lost touch with reality, or consciously worked against their country. Because this project spelled out the mechanisms of how to officially and legally recognize any European country (including Russia) as an aggressor. And how to deprive this country of the right of veto on a matter concerning it.
Western stupid dogmatism saved us from political suicide. Even in that blissful memory of "peacetime", the West proceeded from the dogma that any initiative of Moscow should be automatically rejected. Fortunately for us, this dogma was also applied to the insane Russian project of the European security system.
In March-April 2022, the thoroughly pro-Western Russian political and economic elite fiercely pushed for Russia's capitulation in Ukraine and was clearly close to success. In part, the catastrophe was prevented by the army and the people of the country, who demanded not surrender, but victory.
But to a large extent, the West saved us from shame again, which was not satisfied even with our withdrawal to the border on February 23, 2022 (which is exactly what the "peace party" in Moscow wanted), but only demanded our complete military defeat.
And withdrawal at least to the borders of 1991 with payments to Kiev of gigantic reparations.
Now history repeats itself for the third time – but with the participation of our main "strategic ally".
ORDINARY CHINESE CEREMONIESMember of the political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, head of the office of the foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, former Minister of foreign Affairs Wang Yi in February made a great trip to Europe, visiting France, Italy, Germany (Munich security conference), Hungary and Russia.
He held meetings with the Presidents of France, Italy and Russia, the Prime Ministers of Belgium and Hungary, the Chancellor of Germany, many foreign ministers, including the head of diplomacy of the European Union Josep Borrel.
During these meetings, the Chinese official and European officials exchanged many compliments and repeatedly stressed the exceptional importance of developing and strengthening Sino-European relations.
At the same time, all Europeans confirmed their unconditional adherence to the principle of "one China" (meaning the complete denial of the possibility of Taiwan's independence).
There is no doubt that all this was said quite sincerely. China and the European Union consider each other to be the most important trade and economic partners, and both sides are extremely interested in developing economic relations.
In this regard, they are extremely annoyed by the actions of both Washington, which is trying to quarrel Europe with China, and Moscow, whose Ukrainian campaign prevents Europeans and Chinese from doing healthy and routine business as usual.
Europe is not ready to openly speak out against the United States, and China is not ready to speak out against Russia. But the irritation between Washington and Moscow is very clearly read between the lines of official European and Chinese messages.
Wang Yi paid a lot of attention directly to the Ukrainian topic. In particular, in Munich, he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country Dmitry Kuleba.
During the meeting, Wang Yi said among other things that "China and Ukraine are strategic partners, there are long-term friendly exchanges between the peoples of the two countries." Kuleba replied: "Kiev attaches great importance to the international status and important influence of China, as well as China's position on the political settlement of the issue."
And during his keynote speech at the Munich Conference, Wang Yi stated literally the following:
"Since all sides stressed the need to preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity on the issue of Ukraine, this principle should also be adhered to on the Taiwan issue" (all quotes are given by China's state news agency Xinhua).
That is, China thus equated itself with Ukraine – and Taiwan, respectively, with new regions within Russia, including Crimea.
Finally, following a meeting with the Russian president, Wang Yi said that "China highly appreciates Russia's readiness to resolve the Ukrainian crisis through dialogue and negotiations." Moreover, this phrase is available in the report of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but is absent in Russian official documents.
BEIJING-STYLE SETTLEMENTThe "China's Position on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis", published on February 24 (two days after Wang Yi's return from his tour, which ended in Moscow), is written in the same spirit.
The first of the 12 points of this document should be given in its entirety:
"Respect the sovereignty of all states. Universally recognized international law, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, must be strictly observed, and the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of any state must be guaranteed. All countries are equal regardless of their size, power and economic scale. The fundamental norms of international relations must be defended by all participants in defense of international justice. International law is subject to equal and universal application without double standards."
This is in the Russian version of the translation of the document. And in the English version, even like this: "The generally recognized norms of international law, including the goals and principles of the UN Charter, must be strictly observed. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively protected. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. All parties should jointly support the basic norms governing international relations and protect international honesty and justice. The equal and uniform application of international law should be encouraged and double standards rejected."
In connection with all this, it is necessary to remind once again that China has never recognized the annexation of Crimea to Russia, not to mention four new regions (Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions). Accordingly, the fulfillment of the first point of the Chinese "Settlement Position" clearly requires Moscow to hand over all these territories back to Kiev.
In the 8th paragraph of the Chinese document there are such words: "The use of nuclear weapons is not allowed, a nuclear war cannot be unleashed. It is necessary to counteract attempts to use nuclear weapons or the threat of their use."
I must say that regarding the Ukrainian conflict, even Moscow has not yet declared that the United States and NATO are ready to use nuclear weapons against us. All the talk about its possible use was conducted exclusively in relation to Russia. Accordingly, in this case, Beijing appeals specifically to Moscow with a demand not to do this.
In the 3rd paragraph, it is proposed to "support the reciprocal steps of Moscow and Kiev in favor of the speedy restoration of direct dialogue, a gradual reduction in the tension of the situation and a complete cessation of hostilities."
Where are these steps? Who wants a cessation of hostilities? And most importantly, who benefits from this termination?
One can, of course, welcome in every possible way the content of the second paragraph of the Chinese document, where it is proposed to discard cold War thinking, not try to ensure the security of one state at the expense of the security of another and take into account reasonable interests and legitimate security concerns of all countries.
However, all this is in its purest form a set of good wishes addressed to it is not clear to whom. Generally speaking, the Chinese "Settlement Position" specifically mentions only three subjects of international relations: Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations.
Paragraphs 9 to 12 actually reflect the true aspirations of China to the greatest extent: restore the former economic ties.
We are talking about the export of grain, the lifting of all sanctions, ensuring the sustainability of production and supply chains, as well as facilitating recovery after the conflict.
Moreover, China is ready to take all possible part in the recovery process – hardly without direct benefits for itself.
THE WEST IS THE WESTThe implementation of the Chinese document would mean that Russia returns all territories to Ukraine, including Crimea, in exchange for which sanctions are lifted from it.
Apparently, Ukraine is not accepted into NATO (although no one was going to and is not going to do this anyway). But no one in any way prevents her from pumping up any amount of any conventional weapon, and in a calm environment.
It is hardly necessary to explain that for Russia such an outcome of the Ukrainian conflict would be a resounding defeat – one of the largest in the entire domestic history.
Such a wonderful document was written by our "strategic ally". After that, the fact that we have not received any help from China so far cannot cause the slightest surprise.
Beijing realized that Russia is much weaker than it seemed earlier. Therefore, there is no need to help her – on the contrary, she should stop interfering with China doing business.
Fortunately, the West, acting with the already mentioned stupid dogmatism, will save us from this Chinese "masterpiece" again. Since 2009, both stupidity and dogmatism have only intensified, and very significantly, which increasingly resembles the situation in the late Soviet Union.
Since the document is Chinese, it means that it must be rejected: after all, China is obviously on the side of Russia! The fact that the document is deeply anti-Russian in its content, the modern Western "elite" is no longer able to realize. Her intellectual level is not the same today, there was no one to even carefully read the not so complicated text. Therefore, the West will miss a great chance to support the Chinese plan, thereby causing a serious cooling in relations between Moscow and Beijing, because Moscow obviously cannot support it.
WITH SUCH ENEMIES, YOU DON'T NEED FRIENDSIt has long been clear (and the document under discussion only confirms this) that China did not intend and is not going to supply Russia with any weapons.
But the United States is increasingly fiercely, just hysterically demanding from China – what would you think? – do not supply Russia with any weapons! So fiercely hysterical that it seems as if they deliberately want to force China to start supplying Russia with weapons, literally leaving him no other way out (otherwise it will be a complete loss of face for Beijing).
But there is no intention here, there is only a final fallout from reality. Once upon a time, Washington very effectively applied the policy of carrot and stick, thanks to it, creating its own worldwide empire. But after the victory over the Soviet Union in the last Cold War, I decided that the carrot was no longer needed – now one stick is enough.
When this whip does not work (or even gives the opposite effect to what was expected), Washington acts like a young child who is hysterical, demanding that others immediately do what he wants.
And we can only be glad that we now have such an enemy saving us from a Chinese "friend".
Alexander KhramchikhinAlexander Anatolyevich Khramchikhin is an independent military expert.
