This analysis is based on a statement that outlines various principles and recommendations regarding the ongoing Ukraine crisis. The statement emphasizes the importance of respecting the sovereignty of all countries and adhering to universally recognized international law. It also calls for abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, and promoting peace talks as the only viable solution to the conflict.
One of the key points highlighted in the statement is the need to respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all countries, regardless of their size, strength, or economic status. This principle emphasizes equality among nations and the rejection of double standards in international relations. It underscores the importance of upholding international fairness, justice, and the equal application of international law.
The statement emphasizes the importance of abandoning the Cold War mentality and pursuing security in a way that does not come at the expense of others. It encourages all parties to consider the legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries and work towards a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture. This principle promotes cooperation and opposes the pursuit of one’s own security at the cost of others, bloc confrontation, and military escalation.
Another key aspect highlighted in the statement is the need to cease hostilities and prevent the situation from worsening. It calls for all parties to exercise restraint, avoid exacerbating tensions, and support Russia and Ukraine in resuming direct dialogue to deescalate the situation. The statement emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive ceasefire and the pursuit of dialogue and negotiation as the only viable solution to the crisis.
The humanitarian aspect of the conflict is also addressed in the statement. It calls for measures to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the principles of neutrality and impartiality in humanitarian operations. The safety of civilians is highlighted, and the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones is recommended. The statement also emphasizes the importance of increasing humanitarian assistance and providing rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access, with the United Nations playing a coordinating role in channeling aid to conflict zones.
The protection of civilians and prisoners of war is underscored in the statement, emphasizing adherence to international humanitarian law. It calls for the avoidance of attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, the protection of vulnerable groups, and the respect for the basic rights of prisoners of war. The statement supports the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine and calls for the creation of favorable conditions for this purpose.
Nuclear safety and the reduction of strategic risks are also addressed in the statement. It opposes armed attacks on nuclear power plants and peaceful nuclear facilities, and calls for compliance with international law and conventions related to nuclear safety. The statement highlights the opposition to the threat or use of nuclear weapons, nuclear proliferation, and the development and use of chemical and biological weapons.
Economic and trade aspects of the crisis are also mentioned in the statement. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining stable industrial and supply chains and opposing the use of the world economy as a tool for political purposes. The statement encourages joint efforts to mitigate the spillover effects of the crisis on energy, finance, food trade, and transportation, in order to protect global economic recovery.
Lastly, the statement emphasizes the need for post-conflict reconstruction and calls on the international community to support efforts in this regard. China expresses its willingness to provide assistance and contribute constructively to post-conflict reconstruction.
Overall, the analysis of the statement reveals a focus on principles of international law, peaceful resolution of conflicts, respect for sovereignty, and the importance of humanitarian concerns. It emphasizes the need for dialogue, cooperation, and adherence to international norms to address the Ukraine crisis and prevent further escalation.
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Original text of the China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis
1. Respecting the sovereignty of all countries. Universally recognized international law, including the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, must be strictly observed. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. All parties should jointly uphold the basic norms governing international relations and defend international fairness and justice. Equal and uniform application of international law should be promoted, while double standards must be rejected.
2. Abandoning the Cold War mentality. The security of a country should not be pursued at the expense of others. The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly. There is no simple solution to a complex issue. All parties should, following the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and bearing in mind the long-term peace and stability of the world, help forge a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. All parties should oppose the pursuit of one’s own security at the cost of others’ security, prevent bloc confrontation, and work together for peace and stability on the Eurasian Continent.
3. Ceasing hostilities. Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control. All parties should support Russia and Ukraine in working in the same direction and resuming direct dialogue as quickly as possible, so as to gradually deescalate the situation and ultimately reach a comprehensive ceasefire.
4. Resuming peace talks. Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis. All efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be encouraged and supported. The international community should stay committed to the right approach of promoting talks for peace, help parties to the conflict open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible, and create conditions and platforms for the resumption of negotiation. China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
5. Resolving the humanitarian crisis. All measures conducive to easing the humanitarian crisis must be encouraged and supported. Humanitarian operations should follow the principles of neutrality and impartiality, and humanitarian issues should not be politicized. The safety of civilians must be effectively protected, and humanitarian corridors should be set up for the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones. Efforts are needed to increase humanitarian assistance to relevant areas, improve humanitarian conditions, and provide rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, with a view to preventing a humanitarian crisis on a larger scale. The UN should be supported in playing a coordinating role in channeling humanitarian aid to conflict zones.
6. Protecting civilians and prisoners of war (POWs). Parties to the conflict should strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, protect women, children and other victims of the conflict, and respect the basic rights of POWs. China supports the exchange of POWs between Russia and Ukraine, and calls on all parties to create more favorable conditions for this purpose.
7. Keeping nuclear power plants safe. China opposes armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other peaceful nuclear facilities, and calls on all parties to comply with international law including the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) and resolutely avoid man-made nuclear accidents. China supports the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in playing a constructive role in promoting the safety and security of peaceful nuclear facilities.
8. Reducing strategic risks. Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought. The threat or use of nuclear weapons should be opposed. Nuclear proliferation must be prevented and nuclear crisis avoided. China opposes the research, development and use of chemical and biological weapons by any country under any circumstances.
9. Facilitating grain exports. All parties need to implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed by Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the UN fully and effectively in a balanced manner, and support the UN in playing an important role in this regard. The cooperation initiative on global food security proposed by China provides a feasible solution to the global food crisis.
10. Stopping unilateral sanctions. Unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the issue; they only create new problems. China opposes unilateral sanctions unauthorized by the UN Security Council. Relevant countries should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction” against other countries, so as to do their share in deescalating the Ukraine crisis and create conditions for developing countries to grow their economies and better the lives of their people.
11. Keeping industrial and supply chains stable. All parties should earnestly maintain the existing world economic system and oppose using the world economy as a tool or weapon for political purposes. Joint efforts are needed to mitigate the spillovers of the crisis and prevent it from disrupting international cooperation in energy, finance, food trade and transportation and undermining the global economic recovery.
12. Promoting post-conflict reconstruction. The international community needs to take measures to support post-conflict reconstruction in conflict zones. China stands ready to provide assistance and play a constructive role in this endeavor.