China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has called for a multipolar world rather than one dominated by a handful of countries, and saying that “protectionism” isn’t the answer.
“A multipolar world is both a historical necessity and the new reality,” Wang, China’s foreign minister, told state media after presiding over a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and following trips to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“China will be a steady, constructive force in a changing world ... and ensure that all countries can find their place in the multipolar system,” he said.
Wang’s comments appeared to be aimed at the United States, according to some analysts, who said negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have left China feeling isolated and fearful of losing its influence in international affairs.
“Major countries should take the lead in advocating integrity and the rule of law, resolutely abandon zero-sum games, and should not return to the law of the jungle, nor should they adopt double standards when it comes to abiding by international law,” Wang said, adding “Protectionism is not the solution.”
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Wang said dialogue is always better than confrontation and that negotiations are preferable to war.
“China has always advocated resolving all hot spot issues through dialogue, consultation and politics,” Wang said. “China didn’t create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it an involved party, but we haven’t stood idly by, nor have we sought to profit from the situation.”
The U.S.-Russia negotiations have excluded China from the outset, leading to a strong sense of isolation and crisis for Beijing, said Soong Kuo-cheng, a researcher in international relations at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University.
“On the one hand, China feels embarrassed, and on the other, it feels unable to exert influence as a major power,” Soong told Radio Free Asia. “Now, all of their statements — both from Wang Yi and the Chinese state media — are tinged with bitterness, showing obvious anxiety over their exclusion from the discourse on the Russia-Ukraine issue.”
International affairs being “monopolized”
Soong said China is just as likely to try “monopolizing” in pursuit of its own interests.
“Look at how they have key personnel at the United Nations and its affiliated organizations in their pocket,” Soong said. “Don’t they lay claim to 90% of the South China Sea? Isn’t that monopolizing the South China Sea? Isn’t their claim on the Taiwan Strait, as part of Chinese waters, also a form of monopoly?”
“This accusation is quite ridiculous... it is China that tries to monopolize international affairs,” he said. “For every finger you point at others, four fingers point back at yourself.”
U.S.-based commentator Cai Shenkun agreed.
“That’s China’s foreign policy: to use grand rhetoric when something suits them, and to start talking about rules of the United Nations and international relations if it doesn’t,” Cai said, adding playing the UN card is useless.
China as a major threat to U.S.
International relations are undergoing significant restructuring since Trump took office, Cai said, because the new administration sees China rather than Russia as the biggest threat to U.S. interests.
“Once China allies itself with Russia, any sanctions from the international community against China become meaningless,” Cai said. “I believe Trump sees this issue, which is why he wants to quickly separate China from Russia. And Russia doesn’t want China to grow too strong, either, and wind up in the role of junior partner.”
And while Trump has repeatedly lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping as his friend since taking office, he has been eager to take measures, such as sweeping tariffs and sanctions against the Chinese Communist Party.
"Lack of mutual trust" between China and Russia
Both China and Russia fear that the other side will get closer to Trump, according to Cai.
Without the “shoulder-to-shoulder and back-to-back” relationship between China, Russia would not have been able to sustain its war in Ukraine, because China has provided Russia with strategic materials and financial support through dual-use products and significant oil purchases, he said.
On February 24, the eve of Trump’s summit with Putin, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi had spoken with Putin.
Putin briefed Xi on the contacts between Russia and the U.S., and Xi expressed support for dialogue between the two sides and its willingness to assist in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Kremlin.
Observers believe that while Putin seeks to gain Xi’s understanding and trust, Trump seeks to drive a wedge between China and Russia, uniting with Russia against China.
“It’s hard to say whether the apparent cracks in the China-Russia relationship mean that they are deliberately playing a double game or putting on a show to lure the U.S. into taking a position favorable to Russia in negotiations,” Soong told Radio Free Asia. “It’s not clear right now that the U.S. and Russia are uniting against China.”
“As for Putin, he will want to see tangible benefits before he responds to Trump’s statements,” he said.
As for U.S.-China relations, Trump’s anti-China stance remains relatively firm, Soong said, citing his committed tariffs policy along with the recent removal of a phrase from the U.S. State Department website that once declared that Washington did not support independence for Taiwan, and the use of “China” instead of “the PRC” to describe the country.
The triangular relationship between the U.S., China, and Russia is a significant part of the future chessboard of international politics, he said, adding that it’s too early to say what the outcome will be, Soong said.
Russia is unlikely to lean toward the U.S. and turn its back to long-term ally China, as trade between Russia and China has already exceeded $100 billion, and that between Russia and the U.S. amounts to merely $3 billion, he said.
Furthermore, China has a long history of using geopolitical and strategic alliances to counter U.S. power, Soong said, adding it’s hard to see what leverage Trump can bring to win Russia over for now.
Three-way psychological warfare
For Cai Shenkun, the U.S., Russia, and China are currently engaged in a three-way game of psychological warfare, seeing who will move toward Trump first.
“There are still significant ideological and value differences between China and Russia; after all, Russia’s president must be elected, while China has no electoral system at all,” Cai said.
“More importantly, Russia is an Orthodox Christian country that is historically more part of Europe than Asia,” he said.
“If Russia leans toward Asia, it becomes subordinate to China, losing power on the international stage,” Cai said. “But if Trump offers Russia a new path, it may quickly distance itself from China.”
To read the original story in Chinese, click here.
