Chinese academic debates can provide insights on China's foreign relations positioning, and leadership reflections and geostrategic postures.
Here are some excerpts from some China’s think-tankers
Selected Quotes
“China and Russia are “half of the sky” [半边天] for each other’s security and development.” – Wang Xiaoquan (王晓泉), researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
“Even in the event of a bipolar confrontation between the US and China – which is certainly not desirable – Russia may choose to remain neutral and keep its options open [左右逢源]. But so long as it does not side with the US, this would be a strategic success for China.” – Zhao Huasheng (赵华胜), former director of the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Fudan University.
“In the unlikely event that Russia were to be continually weakened to the extent that it would be unable, unwilling or afraid to continue its struggle against the US and the West, this would ultimately lead to an extremely unfavourable strategic situation for China.” – Yang Jiemian (杨洁勉), researcher and former director, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS).
“The repercussions of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine have been largely negative [for us] and I cannot see China benefiting from it … First, it has hindered the world economy's [post-pandemic] recovery; second, it has fuelled the ideological trend towards deglobalisation; and third, it has put global economic governance in jeopardy.” – Xu Mingqi (徐明棋), distinguished research fellow, Shanghai Institute of International Finance and Economics.
“China and Russia have completely different national conditions and traditions, and have considerable differences in such areas as foreign policy, diplomatic thought, views on security and development, attitudes towards globalisation and relations with the world.” – Ding Xiaoxing (丁晓星), director of the Institute of Eurasian Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR).
“The imperial logic underlying both the rejection of Ukraine as a national entity and the overt claim to restore [Russia’s] traditional territories is alarming.” – Feng Yujun (冯玉军), director of the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Fudan University.
“Unless Washington increases its strategic pressure on Beijing and Moscow to such an extreme that both states feel compelled to consolidate a formal alliance, China and Russia will continue to pursue a hedging strategy but avoid entering an outright alliance.” – Wang Dong (王栋), professor at the School of International Studies, Peking University.
For a detailed rationale in deciphering China’s official statements - and the art of doing so - goto the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) site.
Related Readings
Strategic Relationships’ Changes
China's Ukraine Peace Initiative