Daily Times

The Ukraine war is escalating unprecedentedly. Seems that both warring countries are all out to ruin each other while 197 countries are participating in the 27th UN Conference of Parties (COP27) on climate change in Sharm Al-Shaikh (Egypt). Once again, after the Afghanistan War, Russia is fighting all alone to defend its geopolitical interests in the region while the Kyiv allies are exuberantly fuelling the war. Besides the US and the NATO military shipments and the EU support, now the US-influenced countries are also jumping on the Kyiv side to fight what they term “Russian invasion.” Only a few countries are diplomatically supporting Moscow. Perhaps fatigued, Russia has reiterated repeatedly of using nuclear weapons if the US, NATO, EU and their influenced countries keep on fuelling the war.

China is among the few countries supporting Russia’s stance over the US and NATO fiddling in Ukraine on the diplomatic fronts. But, the news agency Reuters reported on Sunday (November 6, 2022) that “in a first clear message to Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against nuclear weapons over Ukraine.” President Xi warned Russia after a meeting with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing.

Quoting the news agency: “Scholz condemned threats to use atomic weapons in Ukraine, warning that Russia risked ‘crossing a line’ in the international community by resorting to the nuclear force.”

The Ukraine war would have ended in the second week if both countries had gone for negotiations to settle their conflicts.

As reported, he pressed Xi to prevail on Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine, saying Beijing had a responsibility as a major power to do so. However, Xi refrained from criticizing Russia or calling on Moscow to withdraw its troops. Certainly, all sane minds would agree that nuclear threats are “irresponsible and incendiary” as Scholz has said, and by using nuclear weapons, “Russia would be crossing a line that the community of states has drawn together.”

Indeed great concern, but don’t we need to take care of the “lines” drawn by the comity of states on fiddling and promoting militant insurgency in other states? The Ukraine war would have ended in the second week if both countries had gone for negotiations to settle their conflicts. It was the US and the West that prevented them from sitting together and talking with free minds. Their regular and consistent supplies of heavy military shipments and, as reported, the engagement of their skilled technical human resource in support of Ukraine has led to worsening the situation.

Scholz is facing a lot of criticism from within his coalition about relations with Beijing while he has been trying to balance securing a level playing field for European companies with shedding Germany’s heavy reliance on the Chinese market. In this context, his visit is considered sane and productive while Germany is facing inflation, and food and energy crises. The experts pin hopes on enhanced Chinese cooperation with Germany to combat the current challenges. China’s statement urging Russia to refrain from using nuclear weapons is being considered a “worthwhile” outcome of the Scholz visit.

Last Friday, top diplomats from the world’s major industrialized democracies rallied support for Ukraine in its resistance to Russia’s invasion, expressing “unwavering commitment” to Ukraine’s defence. They expressed suspicion of China’s increasing assertiveness amid a panoply of global crises. The ministers accused Russia of “trying to terrorize the civilian population” of Ukraine by targeting critical power, water and other infrastructure and demanded an end to the war, the US news agency AP reported.

Ukraine’s Western allies have been accusing Russia of threatening to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. While Moscow has repeatedly denied and accused Kyiv of planning to use a radioactive “dirty bomb”. The US has already accepted at the UNSC of having Biolabs in Ukraine for “peaceful research”. Russia’s this complaint has yet to take any final turn.

Russia has also pointed out that Taiwan, at the instigation of the USA, is supporting Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia. Since the start of the “Russian Armed Forces Special Military Operation” in Ukraine, dozens of volunteers from Taiwan have arrived on Ukrainian territory to take part in the conflict on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In particular, according to data available on the Internet, Taiwanese mercenaries from the Ukrainian so-called “International Legion” and the “Carpathian Sich” battalion are fighting on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Additionally, at the end of August 2022, the island state secretly transferred about 800 Revolver 860 drones to the Ukrainian army via Poland.

Taiwan’s support of the Kyiv regime is being considered a part of a political course coordinated by the US and the West to weaken Russia’s position as China’s ally in the global geopolitical arena. The recent visits of the US top officials to Taiwan and firm commitments of “cooperation and support” reflect that Washington can increase multifold support to Taiwan to build a united front against Russia and China in the Asia-Pacific region. Only the US and a few of its allies recognize Taiwan as the Republic of China (ROC) and are said to be supporting the creation of a North and South Korea-type framework. Certainly not acceptable for China and its friends and geopolitical allies including Russia, which the trilateral alliance of Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS) is aiming at. Will the engagement of Taiwan in Ukraine divert the focus of China and Russia away from the Russia-Ukraine standoff? Seems not, but President Xi Jinping and Scholz’s joint statement may disturb Moscow. Nevertheless, no signs of any change in the region’s strategic position in the global context after President Xi Jinping has secured historic and a precedent-breaking third term in power. An overwhelming vote of confidence for the consistency of his vision, policies and action agenda in implementation by China in the region and globally. One-China, regional and global economic growth, peace and prosperity, the Belt and Road Initiative will remain the top priority for President Xi. Supporting Russia’s stance over the Ukraine war also serves Chinese geopolitical interests.

The writer is a freelance journalist and broadcaster, and Director Devcom-Pakistan. He can be reached at devcom.pakistan@gmail.com and tweets @EmmayeSyed.