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Sinolytics Radar

EU trade relations limit China's support for Russia

As Russia’s assault on Ukraine is intensifying and relationships between the EU and Russia deteriorating quickly, the world is watching closely how China is positioning itself on the issue. The Chinese response is shaped by China’s strategic calculus to strengthen its geopolitical alignment with Russia in opposition to the US, while not jeopardizing the paramount trade relations with the EU, which are necessary for China’s continued economic growth. Although Beijing is trying to balance both interests, the tacit support for Moscow China has shown so far will likely have significant costs in its relationship with the EU.​

By Redaktion Table

220307 -- BEIJING, March 7, 2022 -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a press conference on China s foreign policy and foreign relations via video link on the sidelines of the fifth session of the 13th National People s Congress NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2022. TWO SESSIONS CHINA-BEIJING-NPC-PRESS CONFERENCE-WANG YI CN LixXin PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Feature

China stands by Russia

On the sidelines of the National People's Congress, China's foreign minister made clear which side China backs in the Russia-Ukraine conflict: The friendship with Russia remains rock solid. And yet, as always, Wang Yi leaves a back door ajar.

By Michael Radunski

The Ukraine-China relationship has long been cold, but it holds a lot of potential. For a long time, the relationship was characterized by a simple trade exchange. Currently, however, China is emerging as a major trading partner of Ukraine. In the plans of China's New Silk Road initiative, Ukraine has played a minor role until now. In the wake of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Chinese government is behaving cautiously, but increasingly a slight distancing can be seen. Read the latest Ukraine-China news from the Table.editorial team.    How has the Ukraine-China relationship developed? Even though Ukraine has repeatedly expressed interest in the Silk Road initiative, the state has made few moves on China. Due to Ukraine's difficult economic and political situation resulting from Russian aggression, China is distancing itself from Ukraine. Ukraine also focused its foreign policy on the West - the European Union and the United States to persuade Russia to make peace with economic and political sanctions. Given the complicated U.S.-China relationship, Ukraine had deliberately avoided rapprochement with China. Closer contact with Xi Jinping is emerging under Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj, heralding a possible new phase in the Ukraine-China relationship.