At the beginning of this week, the Russian army carried out a barbaric attack on a children's hospital in Kiev, where children with cancer are treated. Dozens of civilians were killed and injured (including children) in Russia's large-scale attack on Kiev and other cities.
Even China's dictatorship voiced cautious criticism of the attack. Does this statement mean a change in Beijing's course in supporting the Russian aggressor?
Expert Alexander Goerlach tells focus.de that the answer is a resounding no.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement should not be misconstrued as a sudden change of heart or a show of humanity in response to the brutal attack. All official bodies in the People's Republic continue to reflect Russian positions when it comes to the possibility of a ceasefire or even a peace agreement. Xi Jinping also actively supports Putin's war by buying gas and oil, he supports the Russian war machine.
The dictatorship in Beijing was angered when it was named as the main supporter of the Putin regime in its war in Ukraine (“decisive factor”) in the context of NATO's 75th anniversary celebrations in Washington. This is a new twist, because until recently no one in NATO was talking about China and Xi's army.
The Chinese ruler loves chaos outside its borders (at home such chaos is prevented by total surveillance and draconian prison sentences and repression) because it keeps the US and its liberal allies busy.
So far, Beijing has only expressed its willingness to condemn nuclear escalation in accordance with international norms and treaties. At the same time, Beijing is expanding its arsenal of nuclear warheads, sparking an arms race with India.
Beijing's cautious criticism of Putin's terrorist attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv should not be seen as a change of course. Beijing is not interested in acting as a constructive partner to point out the injustices that have been committed and prevent future injustices. Rather, it is intended to discredit Washington's peace initiatives from the outset.