In international politics, China is a state that is increasing its soft power day by day, both with its consistent and sensitive attitude of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states and the positive image created by the fact that it has never attempted to invade any state. Beijing is considered a reliable actor with its approach to inter-state relations, which centers on mutual respect and develops win-win relations.
In this sense, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, announced during Xi Jinping’s visit to Kazakhstan in 2013 after he became President of China, has attracted the attention of many countries as a step to build bridges of cooperation at a time of increasing competition and blocization in the global system.
As the 10th anniversary of the initiative comes to a close, China is not only developing a relationship in which it gains from financing various infrastructure projects, but is also contributing to the development of its allies. For all these reasons, China’s visibility in international politics has increased. Indeed, China is expected to become the world’s largest economy by 2030. [i] Predictably, as Beijing’s visibility in global politics has increased, its diplomatic efforts in international crises have also become more prominent.
Undoubtedly, China’s emphasis on peace diplomacy is influenced by the sense of trust created by the relations it has established with the relevant states within the framework of mutual economic dependence. In this process, the actors involved in the crises are satisfied with Beijing’s preemptive, constructive and balanced stance, while China cares about the security of the corridors. Similarly, the energy issue plays a decisive role in Beijing’s mediation diplomacy.
In this sense, it can be stated that it has put forward an alternative paradigm against the United States of America (USA), which tries to maintain its hegemony through crises and acts with the logic of “divide-divide-rule” and thus feeds on crises. This paradigm can be formulated as “unite-peace-win together”. In fact, this approach of Beijing is the main characteristic expected from the hegemonic power in the international system. This is because an actor that cannot establish a peaceful order in military, political, economic and cultural terms is not expected to build hegemony. The collapse of American hegemony is closely related to the failure of the “Pax-Americana”.
Unable to establish a peaceful order in its regions, the US seeks to maintain its global leadership by confronting or destabilizing its rivals through crises. However, China’s peaceful roadmap demonstrates that American hegemony is not sustainable. Beijing has recently adopted a constructive attitude towards crises through its mediation diplomacy, and the parties to the crises appreciate China’s efforts.
There is no doubt that China’s position makes regional and global actors interested in various crises pay attention to Beijing’s mediation initiatives. In the current situation, the main issue affecting European politics in particular and world politics in general is the Russia-Ukraine War, as well as the energy and food crisis. In this sense, Xi conveyed his discomfort with the prolongation of the war to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Leaders’ Summit held in Samarkand in September 2022.[ii] Similarly, in a statement issued on February 24, 2023, the first anniversary of the war, China, on the one hand, sent a message that could be interpreted as support for Ukraine by drawing attention to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of its states; on the other hand, it criticized the sanctions imposed on Russia by stating that unilateral sanctions were wrong.[iii]
This declaration raised Western expectations that China could mediate in the Russia-Ukraine War. Thus, the path paved by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s request to Xi to use his influence over Putin in November 2022 [iv] evolved into a new phase. Indeed, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Beijing on March 31, 2023 and French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Beijing on April 5-7, 2023.
It is also noteworthy that these visits took place after Xi’s visit to Moscow on March 20-22, 2023. The developments are significant in terms of revealing the importance that Continental Europe attaches to China’s mediation in the Russia-Ukraine War. Moreover, it is also suggested that Xi will visit Kiev in the near future and meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.[v] Zelenski has also made statements in this direction.
On the other hand, China’s mediation diplomacy is not limited to the Russia-Ukraine War. On March 10, 2023, after four days of talks between Ali Shamkhani, the head of Iran’s National Security Council, and Saudi Arabia’s National Security Advisor Musad bin al-Ayban, under the mediation of Wang Yi, the head of the Foreign Policy Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, a decision was taken to normalize relations between Tehran and Riyadh on March 10, 2023, and it was decided to open embassies within two months after a seven-year diplomatic break.[vi] Following this decision, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdullahiyan met in Beijing on April 6, 2023,[vii] thus demonstrating that the normalization process between the two sides was successfully progressing under China’s mediation.
Undoubtedly, this process, mediated by Beijing, will not only activate the embassies in Riyadh and Tehran, but it will also strengthen the dialogue between the two actors waging proxy wars in many conflict zones, thus paving the way for the establishment of a stable and peaceful order by reducing tensions in a wide geography from Syria to Yemen. Moreover, when considered in the context of petro-yuan discussions, this process creates an environment in which China can build an energy bloc and deal a heavy blow to American hegemony by accelerating the search for de-dolarization.
In addition to all these, it can be stated that China continues to contribute to the conference diplomacy on the solution of the Afghan Question, stands out with its humanitarian aid activities for the Afghan people and makes efforts to resolve the Afghanistan-centered crisis through the SCO.
Moreover, following the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in April 2023, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning expressed concern over the intensification of the conflict between Palestine and Israel and urged the parties, especially Israel, to act calmly and cautiously. Moreover, Mao urged Israel to refrain from rhetoric and actions that could increase tensions. [viii] China has also tried to mobilize the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to mobilize the international community to react to the clashes with the United Arab Emirates, and has ensured that the issue is discussed at the UNSC, albeit without any concrete results.[ix] Considering the recent claims that China will appoint a special envoy to mediate in the resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, it can be stated that Beijing will also make efforts to resolve the Palestinian Question.
In conclusion, China’s non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, its win-win bilateral and multidimensional relations based on mutual respect, and its constructive stance in the face of crises make Beijing a natural mediator in many crisis areas. The Russia-Ukraine War and the Iran-Saudi Arabia normalization are the most concrete examples of this. Moreover, current developments indicate that China may become more visible in the Afghanistan and Palestinian issues.
[i] “China’s Economy Could Overtake US Economy by 2030”, Voice of America, https://www.voanews.com/a/chinas-economy-could-overtake-us-economy-by-2030/6380892.html#:~:text=China’s%20GDP%20should%20grow%205.7,ranked%20U.S.%20economy%20by%202030., (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[ii] Gülru Gezer, “Batı’da Tecrit Edilen Putin ŞİÖ Zirvesi’nde İstediği Desteği Bulamadı”, Independent Türkçe, https://www.indyturk.com/node/554206/t%C3%BCrki%CC%87yeden-sesler/bat%C4%B1da-tecrit-edilen-putin-%C5%9Fi%CC%87%C3%B6-zirvesinde-istedi%C4%9Fi-deste%C4%9Fi-bulamad%C4%B1, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[iii] “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis”, FMPRC, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/202302/t20230224_11030713.html, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[iv] Cenk Tamer, “West’s Struggle with China and Germany’s Differentiating Attitude”, ANKASAM, https://www.ankasam.org/wests-struggle-with-china-and-germanys-differentiating-attitude/?lang=en, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[v] “Zelensky Invites China’s Xi to Visit Ukraine”, The Hill, https://thehill.com/policy/international/3923501-zelensky-invites-chinas-xi-to-visit-ukraine/, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[vi] Natasha Turak, “The China-Brokered Saudi-Iran Deal Has Big Repercussions for the Middle East-and the U.S.”, CNBC-E, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/15/does-chinas-role-in-saudi-iran-rapprochement-represent-a-new-order-.html, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[vii] “Saudi Arabia and Iran Agree to Reopen Embassies During Beijing Talks on Resumption of Diplomatic Ties”, CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/06/china/saudi-arabia-iran-china-beijing-diplomatic-relations-intl-hnk/index.html, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[viii] “Çin, Filistin ile İsrail Arasındaki Çatışmalardan Derin Endişe Duyuyor”, CRI Türk, https://criturk.com/cin-filistin-ile-israil-arasindaki-catismalardan-derin-endise-duyuyor/, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).
[ix] “BM Güvenlik Konseyi’nin İsrail-Filistin Toplantısı Sonuç Vermedi”, TRT Haber, https://www.trthaber.com/haber/dunya/bm-guvenlik-konseyinin-israil-filistin-toplantisi-sonuc-vermedi-759012.html, (Date of Accession: 07.04.2023).