Although official English-language readouts of bilateral phone calls between Xi and foreign minister Wang Yi included the word “war,” China’s government and state apparatus are mostly not referring to it as an invasion or a war. It has instead referred to it as a “situation,” a “crisis,” or, on occasion, a “conflict,” and has emphasized a “complex historical background and context.” It has backed Ukraine’s sovereignty as well as Russia’s “security concerns.”
Premier Li Keqiang told reporters after the annual “two sessions” meeting last Friday that China was “deeply concerned and grieved” about the conflict.
“The current situation in Ukraine is indeed dire,” he said. “The most pressing task now is to keep tensions from escalating or even spiraling out of control.”
Beijing has attempted to portray itself as neutral and has indicated that it may act as a mediator, but Chinese media has amplify Russian propaganda and conspiracy theories. Government spokespeople have also promoted an anti-Western narrative, blaming the United States and NATO for inflaming tensions.
China has struggled to find a middle ground between its alliance with Russia and the widespread global condemnation of the invasion. “China continues to support Russia through its comprehensive strategic partnership and opposes Nato expansion and sanctions on Russia,” said Paul Haenle of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“At the same time, it pays lip service to its principles of non-interference and positive relations with Ukraine.” According to Haenle, Beijing’s goals are incompatible, but in recent days, it has begun to solidify its messaging into an attempt to straddle them anyway.
