Biden-Xi Conference on Ukrainian Invasion: China’s Action To Stop the Attacks

Published in Mainichi Shimbun
(Japan) on 20 March 2022
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Michelle Bisson.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping had an online conference for nearly two hours regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The conference happened while the U.S. is strengthening its vigilance against the possibility that China could provide support to Russian military affairs. Biden hinted that if China provides material support to Russia, the U.S. could impose sanctions against China.

In response, Xi again emphasized opposition to the sanctions, insisting that if economic sanctions are strengthened, they “could trigger serious crises in global economy and trade … causing irrevocable losses.”

The rift between the two countries over sanctions was not closed, but they agreed to try to reach a diplomatic solution.

Biden explained how the U.S. and Europe are dealing with the current situation cooperatively, while Xi promised to play a role in “work[ing] for world peace and tranquility.”

The question is: What about China’s actions?

Regarding the intensifying situation in Ukraine, Xi stated that “The Ukraine crisis is not something we want to see.” If China does provide military support, there is concern that the Russian military will strengthen its attacks and that the disaster will spread.

The U.S. and Europe provide military support to Ukraine in order to combat an unjustified invasion. Any weapons that pass from China to Russia will be aiding the aggressors.

The U.S. and European sanctions on Russia will invite steep price increases for energy and other commodities, which will also affect China.

Could it be that criticism of the sanctions is the result of being wary of how they would reduce China’s own profit, even more than the issue of emphasizing cooperation with Russia?

Enhancing support for refugees, who number over 3 million people, is an urgent task. China should be recognized for its course of strengthening humanitarian aid.

However, as combat continues with no end in sight, human suffering spreads and the impact of economic sanctions increases. Russia’s appeals to China for aid will likely intensify.

The important thing is to stop Russian attacks, which are an invitation to disaster, as soon as possible. More than anything, Xi must make this appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But we do not see such action. We hope to ascertain the course of the confrontation between Russia, which is brandishing military power, and the U.S. and Europe, which compete via economic power.

If the countries take a mercenary view for their own profit, without taking the initiative to bring about peace, they will not gain the trust of the international community. The stable world that China wants is far away in the distance.


ウクライナ侵攻 バイデン・習会談 中国は攻撃停止へ行動を

ロシアのウクライナ侵攻をめぐってバイデン米大統領と習近平中国国家主席が2時間近くにわたってオンライン形式で会談した。

 中国による対露軍事支援の可能性に米国が警戒を強める中での会談となった。バイデン氏は中国が「物資の支援」をすれば、対抗して制裁を科す考えを示唆した。

 これに対し習氏は経済制裁が強化されれば「世界経済に重大な危機を発生させ、挽回できない損失をもたらす」と主張し、制裁に反対する姿勢を改めて強調した。

 制裁に関する両者の溝は埋まらなかったが、外交的な解決を目指すことでは一致した。

 バイデン氏は、米欧などが結束して対応している現状を説明し、習氏は「平和のために、建設的な役割」を果たすと約束した。

 問われるのは、中国の行動だ。

 深刻化するウクライナ情勢について習氏は「中国が目にしたくなかったことだ」と述べた。軍事支援に踏み切ればロシア軍の攻撃が強まり、惨状は広がる恐れがある。

 米欧がウクライナに軍事支援するのは不当な侵略に対抗するためだ。中国からロシアに兵器が渡れば侵略者に手を貸すことになる。

 米欧などによる対露制裁は、エネルギーなどの価格高騰を招き、中国にも影響が及ぶ。

 制裁批判はロシアとの協調を重視するというよりも、自国の利益がそがれることへの警戒心の方が強いのではないか。

 300万人を超える難民への支援強化は緊急の課題であり、中国が人道援助を増強する方針を表明したことは評価すべきだ。

 しかし、戦闘が続く限り、人道被害は広がり、経済制裁の影響も増大する。中国に対するロシアの支援要請はより強まるだろう。

 重要なのは、惨禍を招いているロシアの攻撃を一刻も早くやめさせることだ。それをプーチン露大統領に働きかけることこそが、習氏に求められている。

 だが、そうした動きは見せていない。軍事力を振りかざすロシアと、経済力で対抗する米欧の対決の行方を見極めたいのだろう。

 自国の損得勘定を優先し、平和の実現に率先して動かないのであれば、国際社会からの信頼は得られまい。中国が望む安定した世界も遠のくばかりだ。
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