China stands as the new global mediator… in defense of its interests

In recent months, China has launched a diplomatic offensive to establish itself as a new global mediator in an attempt to strengthen its political influence and protect its interests, as demonstrated by the trip to Europe that the special representative of the Chinese government for Eurasian affairs begins this Monday. Li Hui.

Whether between Ukrainians and Russians, between Iranians and Saudis or between Israelis and Palestinians, the Asian country mediates with one foot placed on its economic interests and the other on projecting an image of neutrality to unblock conflicts.

Unlock war in Ukraine

Since the war broke out in Ukraine, many voices have called on Beijing, given its good relations with Moscow, to use its influence to stop the conflict. But his 12-point proposal – which prioritizes a ceasefire and respect for the “legitimate security concerns of countries” – was seen by the West as a nod to Russian demands.

After speaking with his counterparts in Russia, Germany, France or even Brazil, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, finally held a conversation with the Ukrainian, Volodimir Zelenski, in which he reaffirmed that China respects “the territorial integrity of countries” and announced the appointment of a special envoy who will travel to the area this week.

In this way, analysts point out, China seeks to maintain a delicate balance between international actors, especially with Europe, which shows that it can play a more constructive role in the issues that most affect it.

Mediator between Iran-Saudi Arabia

The announcement last March that Iran and Saudi Arabia were resuming relations left the mediating role played by China as a surprise. The Asian giant took advantage of this triumph to present its credentials as a global referee and as “responsible great power”, asserted the official media of the country.

Some experts have pointed out that although the mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia had been underway for several years facilitated by other countries, China took the diplomatic victory after consolidating itself as Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner and one of the main allies of the Arab world, after the holding of two historic summits in Riyadh in which the Chinese president participated in what was his first visit to the region since 2016.

Resuming talks between Israelis and Palestinians

At the same time, China has shown its desire to facilitate the resumption of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, and called for “political courage” at a time of tension between the two sides.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang took advantage of a conversation with his Israeli counterpart to allude to the Global Security Initiative promoted by the Asian giant and China’s belief that the key to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in defending the vision of the “common security”.

According to experts quoted by the local press, China has cultivated “healthy contacts” with both parties, which has led him to project “neutrality” already “create expectations of peace”.

Stability in Afghanistan

On April 13, China launched a new position paper on Afghanistan, stating that it supports the “reconstruction” of the country and its “political development“through a government”moderate and prudent”.

Days later, Foreign Minister Qin held a trilateral dialogue with Afghan and Pakistani representatives to “inject mutual trust” between the two neighbors, who have had border disputes in recent years. Beijing also seeks to integrate Kabul into the New Silk Roads projects, with which it intends to weave an international trade network and globalize its influence.

Meanwhile, next week the China-Central Asia summit will be held, and Beijing has already appealed to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan to oppose “external interference” for “make Central Asia a field of beneficial cooperation instead of one for geopolitical games.”

Burmese conflict

Another of the Qin Gang’s recent visits has been to Burma, where he met with the head of the junta, Min Aung Hlaing, the highest-level meeting between Beijing and Naypyidaw since the coup in February 2021, staging the current support China to the military after keeping a low profile for the past two years, in which pro-democracy militias have gained ground on the armed forces.

The initial objective of China, which has a 2,129-kilometer border with Burma and is its largest trading partner, would be to ensure that the Army protects and restarts its projects there, some stalled since the coup, including those related to gaining access to the Indian Ocean, fearing that an opposition victory would curtail their influence.

To do this, China strengthens ties with the Army and also mediates between it and the ethnic guerrillas with the aim of promoting stability in the longer term, discreetly becoming the external actor “more proactive” in Burma, in the face of the divisions of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in the face of the distraction of the United States by the war in Ukraine.

Source: EFE