China paving way for peace while others fuel conflict

The past year saw a major shift in the world paradigm as Ukraine and Russia went head-to-head against each other, affecting the global economy. Instead of solving the conflict, some powers in the developed world are fueling the conflict, bringing a negative impact.

On the contrary, China, with its neutrality and understanding of the intensity of the situation, is trying to settle down the issue.

President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow in March paved the way for peace and has given hope that escalation of the crisis can be averted. China's constant position in upholding an impartial role in international affairs has made clear that it wants to be a neutral party to an international dispute and can be a mediator in solving issues.

During his recent phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Xi emphasized the fact that the Ukraine crisis is getting complex and, if not addressed, will turn into something that will not be in anyone's favor. China has remained neutral, with its core stance being to facilitate peace talks.

China has also called for pragmatism on the Ukraine crisis. It stressed that the fundamental principles regulating international relations should be upheld by all parties, and international fairness and justice should be defended. International law should be applied equally, and double standards must be rejected.

China has clearly emphasized that dialogue and negotiations are the best way to move forward. Sovereignty should always be respected, no matter what the situation is.

It should be kept in mind that it was the United States that first instigated Russia. It all began in April 2008 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, where NATO announced that Ukraine and Georgia were welcome to apply for membership in the alliance. Russians drew a line and made it quite plain that they saw this as an existential danger.

However, as time went on, the West moved to incorporate Ukraine into their group in order to make Ukraine a Western bulwark on Russia's front. Of course, this goes beyond simple NATO expansion. The core of the policy is NATO growth, but it also involves European Union expansion and transforming Ukraine into a pro-US liberal democracy, which, in the eyes of Russia, poses an existential threat.

Despite the constant warmongering by the US and the West, China has always focused on making sure that there should be no human rights violations. The Chinese leadership has constantly stressed that all measures should be taken to ease the humanitarian crisis, and efforts are needed to increase humanitarian assistance, improve conditions and provide rapid relief.

This shows that China has always been an advocate of peace, despite difficult circumstances. The emphasis on safeguarding human rights clearly cancels out the negative propaganda spread by the West to malign China's image.

On the other hand, the US stance on this sensitive issue has been very cynical. Its constant instigation to prolong the conflict and not making any effort for dialogue and peace is very strange, but not new. When the US said it would provide arms to Ukraine, it was a clear indication that stopping the conflict was not what the administration of US President Joe Biden wants.

Historically, the US has always been involved in waging wars, and its expansionist ideas are not hidden. By waging wars and supporting their friends in doing so, the US arms industry earns dollars. Pentagon leaks have clearly indicated that the US is playing an active role in causing the situation to deteriorate. US intelligence assistance has enabled Ukrainian forces to foresee and thwart Russian activities. The Pentagon's position in the fight is highlighted by its assistance in planning Ukraine's air defenses and forecasting the depletion of the nation's current arsenal.

The West is unable to digest that China's rising influence in the world makes it a standard bearer for peace and harmony. To slander China's image, the Western forces can go to any extent because it is evident to them that they are not the ones who will make the decision at the behest of others. It is a new world in which economic progress is much more valuable and won't be compromised.

One needs to understand that world politics are changing. Unless the US-led Western powers return to the track of assisting peace, the power shift from West to East will only be delivered more swiftly.

The author is editor-in-chief at the Daily Ittehad Group of Newspapers& Pakistan Economic Net and vice-president of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.