In the wake of the U.S. discovering what the federal government has identified as a Chinese spy balloon, concerns are growing about China’s relationship with Russia.
In particular, questions are swirling about whether China will aid the Russian Federation in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which began a year ago.
President Joe Biden visited Ukraine this week “to send a clear and powerful message that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” per the White House. A Department of State press release issued Friday also announced an additional $10 billion in support for Ukraine as it fights the invasion.
When asked Friday if he thinks China will side with Russia, Biden said “there’s no evidence of that so far,” and mentioned having a long talk with Chinese leader Xi Jinping over the summer.
China also released a position paper Friday regarding Ukraine that said the sovereignty of all countries should be respected.
“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,” said the paper.
However, Juscelino Colares – an international law expert from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio – told KNX this week that there’s more to the story.
“There is a danger of a slippery slope,” he said. “China is trying here to present itself publicly as neutral, while basically helping Russia economically and militarily through North Korea. And yet it seems to be planning to pretty soon help Russia also militarily in the… the war effort.”
CNN said that China’s position paper “appears targeted at the West,” and Corales noted that China has not yet condemned Russia for the atrocities in Ukraine. According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, more than 8,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the invasion began, including nearly 500 children.
Colares said all parties involved should be careful, as the situation could develop into a world war.
“What China really wants here is a prolonged war,” he said. “The more prolonged the war is, the more Russia gets, you know, depleted militarily,” and becomes less of a rival to China. As for Russia, Corales said he believes the country is “trying to find an exit ramp” out of the war.
“Russia started this war and Russia can end this war,” said a G7 statement from the White House this week. “We call on Russia to stop its ongoing aggression and to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.”
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