Why Xi visit to Russia is not diplomatic support for conflict with Ukraine.

Published: March 21,2023

By Staff Writer 

Chinese President Xi Jinping visit to Russia on the invitation of his counterpart Vladmir Putin is a strong manifestation of the good bilateral relations between the two countries. China and Russia share a common border and therefore share common interests.  The two countries are also permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as members of the multilateral cooperation under BRICS. The discussions of the two leaders will also focus on multilateral and global issues. 

President Xi has been to Russia on the invitation of his counterpart several times. His trip to Moscow is normal and expected among good neighbors. Although the U.S and the rest of the west have interpreted the visit as intended to show diplomatic support to Russia on the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, this is misplaced and outrageous. Since the beginning of the Russia- Ukraine conflict, China has not taken sides and has been neutral instead requesting both sides to embrace political dialogue rather than war. 

On the other hand, the U.S and its NATO allies have been supplying weapons to Ukraine which has escalated the conflict. In fact, China has proposed to send a delegation to Ukraine in the coming week in an effort to find a diplomatic settlement of the conflict. 

In February, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published a 12-point peace plan for Ukraine, among other things calling for a ceasefire, prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kiev, and steps to stop unilateral sanctions. Beijing stressed that dialogue and negotiations were “the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis” and called on all sides to support Moscow and Kiev in “working in the same direction” and in resuming direct dialogue as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, The United States opposes a ceasefire in Ukraine and rejects settlement proposals put forward by China, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby toldreporters. The U.S interest to keep the war going is not surprising. In 1961, the U.S former president Dwight Eisenhower warned that “an immense military establishment and a large arms industry” had emerged as a hidden hand in US politics. Today, experts point out that from Iraq to Syria and Afghanistan, the US’ military-industrial complex, fueled by huge economic lure, has created an enemy target: terrorists. 

Issuing an indictment by the ICC to Russian President Putin at a time president Xi planned his visit to Moscow is a political ploy by the U.S and its allies to implicate China as an accomplice. First of all, the indictment is null and void since Russia is not an ICC member. Secondly, the issuance of the indictment shows the west hypocrisy and double standards, as no U.S president, past and present have ever been indicted for war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, to name but a few. 

As China recently brokered successful peace negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia peace lovers highly commend China’s efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine so that a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict can be reached. 
Xi visit to Russia though, is primarily aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, peaceful coexistenceand global stability.