Don’t Believe Beijing’s ‘Peace Plan’ As It Builds Up Its Military

The Chinese government opened its annual People’s Congress on Sunday. announced China has seen a 7.2 percent rise in its military budget. China’s overall military spending for this year is now $224 billion. China’s military spending will be undoubtedly much greater. However, Beijing’s timing is intriguing because a week ago at the first anniversary Russia’s invasion Ukraine, Beijing declared itself a peacemaker and issued a 12 point “Agreement.”peace plan.”

China’s military buildup has been a clear indicator that those who believe the Chinese Communist Party can bring about peace in Ukraine are delusional. Beijing’s actions are always more powerful than its words. 

Beijing shouldn’t be taken lightly. “peace plan” Three reasons are the reason it is taken too seriously. It lacks concrete steps and actions. It calls for the resolution of the humanitarian crisis, and the protection of supply chains. However it does not offer concrete steps or a timeline. China has not committed to any concrete actions in order to promote peace. 

The second was that Beijing reiterated the same points. They called for “abandoning the Cold War mentality,” While it may sound nice on paper this is Beijing’s primary criticism of Washington regarding almost all things the U.S. does. investigation of the origin of Covid-19 You can find more information here establishing a security pact with Australia and the United Kingdom.

It seems that China already has embraced the Cold War mindset. Last February, China’s President Xi Jinping issued a joint declaration with Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President. “relationship has no limit” Opposition to the U.S.-led global order and value system. Xi of the CCP will be attending its 20th Congress. warned His comrades were that “external attempts to suppress and contain China may escalate at any time.” China’s Premier Li Keqiang had announced last Sunday that the country would increase its military budget. called The People’s Liberation Army, (PLA), to “carry out military operations, boost combat preparedness and enhance military capabilities to accomplish the tasks entrusted to them by the Party and the people.” That sounds like someone who is prepared for war.

A third problem is Beijing’s lack of credibility. For instance, its peace plan calls for respecting the sovereignty of all countries because “all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community.” This sounds great, but Beijing does it often the other way. Ask China’s neighbors in Southeast Asia. 

South China Sea Actions

Multiple countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and China, have overlapping historical claims over the South China Sea. These waters, which are rich in natural resource and one of world’s busiest trade routes, are a major hub for international commerce. China’s foreign minister was present at an ASEAN conference in 2010. declared This “China is a big country, and you are all small countries,” Because of China’s power and size, Beijing has the right to determine what happens in South China Sea. China needs other smaller countries to follow its lead and accept his wishes.

China claimed over 90 percent of South China Sea’s territory in 2005, something no other country has accepted. Beijing used the claim to justify building artificial islands in order to disrupt commercial activities within their waters. The aggressive Chinese coast guard patrols of the area were responsible for many. serious accidents That could have a negative impact on the property and lives of citizens from other countries. This historical context makes Beijing’s demand for sovereignty respect of other nations seem hollow. 

Ukraine War

Beijing has been discredited from the role of a peacemaker and neutral in the Russia-Ukraine War because it is not only contradictory. 

China is refusing to critique Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 12, 2014. China’s social media and state are domestically criticized. embraced and spread misinformation from MoscowThe claim that Russia was right to wage war on Ukraine and that a fascist group ran Ukraine is what the embassy claimed. China abstained at U.N. vote on Ukraine-related Resolutions, which called for Russia to cease hostilities. The Wall Street Journal. Beijing was also against the U.N. Human Rights Council removing Russia over Ukraine’s invasion. It was even in the “peace plan,” Beijing never used “invasion” Putin’s military aggression was no longer described as the “Ukraine Crisis.”

China immediately supported Putin’s aggressive behavior after America and its Western allies put severe economic sanctions upon Russia. It offered to support Putin by providing financial resources and increasing Russia’s energy and agricultural imports. Voice of America reported This “China’s overall imports from Russia spiked 80 percent in May [2022] compared with a year ago, to $10.3 billion… Beijing’s purchases of Russian liquefied natural gas surged 54 percent from a year ago to 397,000 tons, even as overall imports of the fuel fell.”

China provided alternatives to the U.S. sanctions that were imposed on Russia’s central banks and large Russian financial institutions. The Wall Street Journal reportedRussian sovereign wealth fund is a war bank that supports government spending. battlefield costs in UkraineTo store oil, China is investing in the Chinese currency. Russian businesses have borrowed money in yuan. Also known as the “renminbi”, households also keep savings there. China is the second largest economy in the world, and its economic support for Russia has allowed Putin to blunt the West’s sanctions. This also helped Russia sustain the war in Ukraine. 

China’s first ever release of its “peace plan,” Biden Administration announced The intelligence could show that Beijing might be looking at whether or not to provide weapons to Russia. Some suspected Beijing likely hoped that Moscow would send weapons to Beijing. “increase the costs of the conflict for the West and give China a measure of leverage in proposing options to end it.” Instead of denying Washington’s allegations, the spokesman for China’s foreign ministry blamed Washington. “as the biggest source of weaponry for the battle in Ukraine” instead. 

Xi is reportedly Putin has spoken with him multiple times, but he has not had a conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president. The public release of its “peace plan,” Beijing said that Xi will visit Russia in April/May, but not Ukraine. Recenty, Xi the Chinese leader welcomed Alexander Lukashenko from Belarus to Beijing. Lukashenko endorsed Putin’s invasion in Ukraine. He also praised Xi over China’s support of Russia last year. 

It’s obvious on which side Beijing stands in the Russia-Ukraine War. China’s actions make it clear that its “Russia-Ukraine war” is not real. “peace plan” meaningless. Do not expect China’s peacemaking to help Ukraine. 

Helen Raleigh CFA is an American author, speaker, and entrepreneur. The Federalist has her as a senior contributor. Her articles appear in The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and other national media. Helen is also the author “Among Others”.Confucius Never Said“, “Backlash: How Communist China’s Aggression Has Backfired.” Follow her Twitter account @HRaleighspeaks and on Parler.