China’s efforts to act as a peacemaker in the ongoing war in Ukraine are taking a backseat to its economic priorities, particularly when it comes to repairing relations with the United States.
For the past three years, Beijing has repeatedly signaled a willingness to engage in peace talks and offer support to Ukraine. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia suggests that China’s focus is shifting towards trade and economic cooperation.
Beijing has deliberately avoided direct involvement in the conflict, despite Russia being one of its key energy suppliers. Instead, China is focusing on maintaining ties with Moscow by buying gas from Russia, which accounts for nearly 23 billion cubic meters of annual imports.
China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, recently stated that China will not use major levers to pressure Russia, highlighting the country’s reluctance to take risks in the Ukraine conflict. This stance has allowed Beijing to focus on trade and economic issues with the US, where it is engaging in negotiations to avoid a damaging trade war.
US tariffs have been a priority for Xi, and Chinese bureaucrats are studying Trump’s trade policies to prepare responses. Diplomats say that China has toned down its rhetoric to keep prospects of a deal alive and is waiting for Trump to make concessions before making any moves.
In contrast, European diplomats have noticed a greater willingness from Beijing to engage with them in recent days. However, despite this increased engagement, China has not made any significant concessions on issues such as market access and trade deficit.
Overall, it appears that China’s priorities are centered around economic cooperation with the US and maintaining its ties with Russia, taking a backseat to its efforts to act as a peacemaker in Ukraine.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/chinas-hopes-be-ukraine-peacemaker-collide-with-its-goals-trump-trade-2025-02-21