China plays peacemaker in its ‘alternative world’

China hosted a series of high-profile diplomatic meetings this week aimed at projecting an image as a global peacemaker in two major global crises. They centered on the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the southern city of Guangzhou, his first trip to the country since Russia invaded Ukraine in February  2022. 

In Beijing, China hosted a meeting that resulted in the signing of an agreement among 14 Palestinian factions to form a national unity government.

Analysts say the developments, while significant, were largely symbolic. Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, told Voice of America by phone:

These diplomatic efforts are in line with the Global Security Initiative that Beijing is trying to put out to make itself look like a global peacemaker.

“But the international community needs to see some substantive progress [from China,]” Chong said.

Ongoing conflict

He also laid out China’s three-step approach to help end the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. This included:

• Promoting a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire.
• Upholding the principle of “the Palestinians governing Palestine.” 
• Promoting Palestine to become a full member of the United Nations.
• Implementing the two-state solution.

The United States has made concerted attempts to achieve an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. 

Washington has laid out conditions intended to lead to the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas in return for a permanent ceasefire and the pullout of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Although Wang tried to use the meeting in Beijing to cast China as a potential mediator in ending the Middle East conflict, Israel quickly denounced the declaration. 

The United States voiced its objection to Hamas’ involvement in the post-war governance of Gaza, noting it has designated the group as a terrorist organization.

Foreign policy

Some experts say that without the support of the US and other countries, Beijing’s efforts to facilitate peace talks in the Middle East could all be in vain. Zhiqun Zhu, an expert on Chinese foreign policy at Bucknell University, said:

Despite [Beijing’s] intention to be a peacemaker and mediator, without the support of the United States and other countries, China won’t be able to achieve much.

Chong in Singapore said Beijing’s outreach to Palestinians could boost its standing in the Muslim world despite pushback from Israel and Washington:

Beijing wants to seem like it is supporting the Palestinian cause, which has broad sympathy among Muslims and this dovetails with investment and efforts to advance Saudi-Iranian reconciliation.

Last year, China brokered a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia that paved the way for the two Middle East rivals to restore diplomatic ties and reactivate a security cooperation agreement.

In Chong’s view, Beijing’s efforts stand as a “contrast” to what some observers see as destructive US actions – from its support for Israel to Washington’s experiences with Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

“Beijing is trying hard to look constructive and supportive to causes that many Muslims and Arab states care about,” Chong said.

China’s hosting of Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba was also an important diplomatic milestone for Beijing. It has faced persistent criticism over its support for Russia, refusing to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

During a three-hour-long meeting with Foreign Minister Wang on Wednesday, Kuleba said “a just peace” in Ukraine is in China’s strategic interests and that Beijing’s role as “a global force for peace” is important.

Ukraine ‘crisis’

He also made it clear that Kyiv is ready to negotiate when Russia is ready to do so in good faith, adding that Ukraine hasn’t sensed any sign of readiness from Moscow. In response, Wang said China remains committed to a political settlement of the “Ukraine crisis.”

He reiterated four principles put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as the six understandings proposed by China and Brazil to help find a solution to end the Ukraine war.

The talks came amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Zhu, the China foreign policy scholar at Bucknell University, said a potential victory by former president Donald Trump in the US presidential election could mean reduced support for Ukraine from Washington.

This would make it “imperative” for Kyiv to reach out to China. “If Trump wins the US election, Ukraine will, basically, be left to itself, so getting support and help from China is critical for Ukraine moving forward,” he told VOA in a written response.

There are also other forces at work.

Sari Arho Havren, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in Brussels, said China’s diplomatic efforts are part of the “building blocks” to help establish an alternative world order led by Beijing.

“China sees an opportunity to weaken the United States’ global position through its diplomatic efforts this week, and countries in the Global South are an important audience [for its messaging,]” she told VOA by phone.

Alternative leader

Zhu pointed out that as the US becomes more preoccupied with November’s presidential election, there may be more opportunities for China to present itself as an alternative leader in global affairs:

The messier the US elections are and the more isolationist the US becomes, the more opportunities China will have to fill in the gap and play a leadership role in international affairs.

Still, if China hopes to become a more important international player through these diplomatic efforts, Chong said Beijing needs to follow up by rolling out some concrete steps.

“I suppose China has ambitions to become a more important player [internationally,] but those ambitions haven’t been matched by developments on the ground yet,” he said.

William Yang is a correspondent for Voice of America based in Taiwan.

This article is republished courtesy of Voice of America. Read the original article here.

The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy of China Factor.