China
China’s ambiguous mediation role in Ukraine
Author: Alexander Korolev, UNSW
After a year of diplomatic inactivity towards the war in Ukraine, the Chinese government has made demonstrable attempts to look like a peacemaker. But while these moves indicate a change in its behaviour, there is little reason to anticipate that China’s efforts will end the war.
China’s 12-point ‘peace plan’ and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s direct phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 26 April 2023, though met with scepticism and criticism in the West, led the international community to believe that China might be able to move the needle far enough to bring the Ukraine war closer to a solution or at least some sort of peace process.
But neither Russia nor Ukraine is ready to negotiate and make concessions. While the conflict is mutually detrimental, there is no clear battlefield stalemate or strategic impasse that would necessitate immediate negotiations. Neither Ukraine nor Russia is exhausted enough to engage in negotiations, with both sides digging in for a long haul.
Beijing’s relative success in brokering a Saudi–Iran agreement should not be extrapolated to the Ukraine war. In the Saudi–Iran case, a pre-established dialogue framework helped China’s late involvement. Iraq and Oman had done much of the substantive work before Beijing stepped in. Most importantly, given the power vacuum in the region, both Iran and Saudi Arabia were willing to reach an agreement with each other.
This does not apply to the case of Ukraine, where the irreconcilability of Kyiv’s and Moscow’s demands and the lack of a strong ‘give peace a chance’ camp in Europe make protracted war the most likely scenario. If China’s mediation attempts are driven by the desire to boost its status, there is a risk for Beijing that a failure to achieve a successful outcome will damage its credibility.
The conflict between Moscow and Kyiv has become an acute manifestation of global great power rivalry, an epicentre of the struggle for influence between Russia and the West rooted in long-term systemic trends.
The Russia–West stand-off in the post-Soviet space surfaced long before the Ukraine war. Soon after the August 2008 Russia–Georgia war, former Russian president Dmitri Medvedev stated that Moscow had demarcated a ‘traditional sphere of Russian interests’, to which then US vice president Joe Biden rebutted, ‘we will not recognise any nation having a sphere of influence’. Russia and the West ruled out any possibility of a positive-sum scenario involving Ukraine. This means that China must mediate not a Russia–Ukraine territorial dispute but a full-blown zero-sum confrontation between Russia and the West — a daunting task.
China’s own precarious position in great power politics and its deteriorating relations with the United States, aggravated by Beijing’s commitment to winning Taiwan back, make Beijing an unlikely candidate to solve tensions between Russia and the West. The crux of the problem is that Russia is China’s only great power ally, and China will rely on Russia in the event of a confrontation with the United States.
Unlike the United States and its allies, China does not want Russia to suffer a devastating defeat in Ukraine. Such a scenario would mean a triumph for the United States’ international order and global influence. This would deal a blow…
Business
China’s Travel Surge: Expanded Visa Exemptions Enhance Tourism and Business Prospects, Improving Access for Travelers and Strengthening Global Connectivity – Travel And Tour World
China has improved travel access by expanding visa exemptions, attracting millions of international visitors and fostering cultural exchanges, while enhancing global connectivity and positively shifting perceptions of the country.
The Shift in China’s Travel Landscape
China is experiencing a travel boom driven by a significant reduction in visa restrictions. Starting December 1, 2023, travelers from 38 countries, including major European nations, can visit visa-free for up to 30 days. This change reflects China’s commitment to enhance global mobility and revitalize its tourism industry post-pandemic. As a result, international arrivals increased to over 8.1 million by the third quarter of 2024, marking a 48.8% rise from the previous year.
Exploring Beyond Traditional Destinations
The new access has prompted travelers to seek immersive experiences, venturing beyond iconic sites like the Forbidden City. Tourists increasingly explore local cultures and markets, enhancing their understanding of daily life in China. Guides have adapted, offering tours that include cultural hotspots and local culinary experiences, thereby enriching the overall visitor journey and promoting authentic engagement.
Broader Implications for Global Connectivity
China’s visa-free initiatives foster greater international connectivity and cooperation in trade. As foreign travelers find it easier to engage with Chinese businesses, reciprocal visa easings may follow globally. The improved perceptions of safety and hospitality, highlighted through social media, contribute to a renewed interest in China’s diverse cultural landscape and its potential as a primary travel destination.
China
China-Denmark Trade and Investment: Key Developments and Emerging Opportunities
China’s investments in Denmark enhance collaboration in renewable energy, green technology, and digital infrastructure, aligning with both nations’ sustainable development goals. Their partnership, solidified by joint programs, underscores mutual economic interests and complementary strengths in green innovation and manufacturing.
As both countries share a commitment to sustainable development, China’s increasing investments in Denmark are driving innovation in renewable energy, green technology, and digital infrastructure. This partnership is further strengthened by Denmark’s expertise in wind energy and environmental solutions, aligning well with China’s goals to transition to a greener and more digitally advanced economy.
The growing trade and investment relationship between China and Denmark not only reflects mutual economic interests but also highlights the complementary strengths of each nation. Denmark’s high-tech manufacturing, environmental engineering, and green energy solutions are vital to meeting China’s evolving demands, while China’s large-scale market and industrial capacity offer vast opportunities for Danish enterprises. Together, these nations are paving the way for continued progress in sustainability, technological innovation, and economic growth.
In 2017, the two countries took a further step to solidify their relationship by establishing a Joint Work Programme for 2017-2020. The program acted as a blueprint for bilateral cooperation, encouraging strategic dialogues and joint ventures between the two nations in key areas such as trade, investment, environmental sustainability, and technology
The partnership was further reinforced in November 2021, when the Foreign Ministers of China and Denmark announced the commitment to a new phase of cooperation through the Green China-Denmark Joint Work Programme. The agreement emphasizes the acceleration of green technologies, renewable energy, positioning Denmark’s expertise in clean energy and green innovation as a crucial asset in China’s drive toward a greener economy.
Over the past five years, China’s exports to Denmark have shown consistent growth, further strengthening the economic ties between the two nations. This trend underscores their mutual commitment to expanding commercial relations and unlocking the potential for deeper cooperation.
China’s growing importance to Denmark, both as a market and as a supplier of production inputs, is evident in the economic integration over the last three decades. Today, China is Denmark’s fourth-largest export market, after the United States, Germany, and Sweden.
| This article was first published by China Briefing , which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support. |
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China
Joe Biden in Africa: US president has ignored the continent for his entire term – why he’s visiting Angola
Joe Biden, having largely overlooked Africa during his presidency, is visiting Angola to address key issues and strengthen diplomatic ties, signaling a renewed focus on the continent.
Joe Biden in Africa: US president has ignored the continent for his entire term – why he’s visiting Angola
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
- China’s Travel Surge: Expanded Visa Exemptions Enhance Tourism and Business Prospects, Improving Access for Travelers and Strengthening Global Connectivity – Travel And Tour World
- China-Denmark Trade and Investment: Key Developments and Emerging Opportunities
- Joe Biden in Africa: US president has ignored the continent for his entire term – why he’s visiting Angola
- HSBC to Scale Back China Credit Card Operations Amid Expansion Challenges – Reuters
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