War in Ukraine: An Embarrassment for Beijing
From the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Beijing has adopted an outward posture of neutrality while in fact supporting Moscow.
Chinese and Russian leaders praise the strength of relations between their countries. However, Russia is moving toward a position of dependence on China. Beyond its public pronouncements, Beijing refuses to engage in the Ukrainian conflict and is exercising restraint. This caution is clearly linked to China’s weakened international position.
Marc Julienne is Research Fellow and Head of China Research for the Center for Asian Studies at Ifri.
Article published in Politique étrangère, vol. 87, n° 3, automne 2022.