Putin escalation leaves China’s Xi with tough balancing act

Bloomberg

While most diplomats at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting condemned Vladimir Putin’s government for escalating tensions with Ukraine, China’s envoy carefully avoided any mention of Russia.
“All parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions,” Ambassador Zhang Jun said as part of a six-sentence statement. “The current situation in Ukraine is a result of many complex factors,” he added. “China always makes its own position, according to the merits of the matter itself.” The brief remarks contrasted with a lengthy joint statement earlier this month following Putin’s first in-person meeting with Xi Jinping in two years. Afterward the Chinese leader backed Russia’s demand for binding security guarantees from the U.S. and Nato in the standoff over Ukraine—providing vital support for Putin as he confronted the West.
Yet now Xi’s government is striking a more nuanced tone as fears grow of an invasion despite repeated Russian denials. Over the weekend, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China upheld Ukraine’s right to “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity” even while blasting the West for “creating panic.”
Following Putin’s move on Monday to recognize two self-proclaimed separatist republics in eastern Ukraine, Wang Yi urged all parties to protect the principle of the United Nations charter during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin later called on all involved to “deescalate the situation through dialogue and negotiation.”