Respect for sovereignty, call for dialogue, rejection of the use of nuclear weapons: the china presented today Friday a 12-point text to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, a year after the Russian invasion.

The text, titled “China’s position on the political solution of the Ukrainian crisis”, which presented Beijing as a neutral country in the conflict, calls on both sides to start peace talks.

But China’s neutrality is disputed by the US and other allied countries of Ukraine. In recent days, Washington has announced that Beijing is considering providing weapons to Russia, which China has categorically denied.

Western pressure on Beijing is mounting as the Chinese government has publicly neither supported nor condemned the Russian attack, but has repeatedly expressed its support for Moscow on the sanctions issue.

The war in Ukraine is an extremely sensitive issue for Beijing, given the strong diplomatic and economic ties it has acquired in recent years with Moscow, driven by a shared interest in counterbalancing the US.

Respect for sovereignty

First point: “The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively protected.”

China has always refused to clearly state that Russia is at fault in the conflict with Ukraine, which erupted after Russian forces invaded Ukrainian territory.

On CNN, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reacted by estimating that the text “could have been completed at the first point” because “the war could end tomorrow if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine and withdrew its forces ».

A call for dialogue

Beijing is calling on Russia and Ukraine to hold peace talks, stressing that “dialogue and negotiations are the only viable solution.”

“The international community should remain committed to the right approach which consists of promoting peace talks, assisting the parties (involved) in this conflict to open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible and to create the necessary conditions and platforms to resume negotiations”, China estimates.

No to nuclear weapons

The text opposes any use of nuclear weapons: “We must prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and a nuclear crisis.”

China “is opposed to the research, development and use of chemical and biological weapons by all countries and under any circumstances”, it is recalled.

The two sides “should strictly comply with international humanitarian law, refrain from attacking civilians or civilian infrastructure buildings,” the text added.

No to the ‘Cold War mentality’

The Cold War mentality must be “abandoned,” Beijing insists, an argument it often repeats.

In a veiled criticism of NATO, the text states that “the security of a region should not be won by strengthening or expanding military blocs” and that “all countries’ legitimate security interests and concerns should be taken seriously.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly accused Washington and its allies of supplying weapons and equipment to Ukraine in recent months.

Today China also criticized the unilateral sanctions imposed on Moscow: “they cannot solve problems, only create new ones.”

Limiting the economic impact

Beijing is also calling for the global economy to be shielded from the fallout from the crisis in Ukraine, notably through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement that allows Ukrainian grain to be exported.

Another priority for China is “maintaining stability in industrial and supply chains.” For this reason the parties involved should “oppose the use of the global economy as a tool or weapon for political purposes”.