China’s Stance on the Crisis in Ukraine

Published on Author tamayoa16

Government officials in China are stuck in between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the crisis in Ukraine. It would be reasonable to think that China would sympathize with Putin and his actions involving Ukraine, but China has also been a strong in opposing actions that interfere with other countries’ internal affairs.

For now, Chinese officials have been very vague as to where their support lies. Official spokesman Qin Gang elaborated on China’s position, saying, “China upholds its own diplomatic principles and the basic codes for international relations, which have also been implied on the Ukraine issue. Meanwhile, we have also taken the historical and contemporary factors of the Ukraine issue into consideration”. The Chinese may not have publicly stated that they support Putin, but with China sitting on the United Nations Security Council, their true opinion may be heard shortly.

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5 Responses to China’s Stance on the Crisis in Ukraine

  1. Very interesting to consider China’s role in the Ukraine confrontation, especially since they are much closer geographically than us living in the United States. I wonder, though, how much will China be influenced by the economic ramifications of the situation? A stronger Russia could challenge China for regional supremacy. Then again, if China can successfully align with a stronger Russia there could be significant economic opportunity for both parties. It will be interesting to watch how this one plays out.

  3. Abraham Lincoln said, in 1848, “Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better.” This right of populations to self-determine governance applies to both the uprising against Yanukovych’s administration, and Crimea’s vote to join Russia (assuming the legitimacy of both). Has the U.S. offered any concrete evidence of Russia manipulating of the vote, which it alleges? Has Russia or China offered any concrete evidence that the U.S. staged the uprising in Ukraine, as both nations allege? No and No.

    Geopolitics frame this debate, of course. It is not in US interest for Russia to gain Crimea, and it was not in the interest of Russia (or by extension China) for Yanukovych’s administration to be toppled. But putting aside the “East vs. West” rhetoric, what considerations did China make in choosing to neither support or condemn Mr. Putin’s actions?

  5. This is an interesting post. I wondered about how China would respond to this crisis. Apparently, China does not clearly support either side. China is a “good” friend with Russia but it seems like it does not want Russia to expand its territory. What can China do? Just step out of the crisis and stay quiet.