OPINION: Understanding China

The People’s Republic of China is one of the most powerful and complex countries in the world. To understand even its name and essence is a major undertaking. Is it communist? No one can answer with certainty. Perhaps the best description is that it is a capitalist state under full state authoritarian control.

How it can be considered a people’s republic when democracy is non-existent is one of the conundrums of politics. What we know is that it is powerful in terms of the size of its population and economy. In fact, according to world ranking, it is the second richest country in the world, but its population probably does not experience this wealth.

There is probably no country that does not trade with China. The indisputable fact is that its products are relatively good and also inexpensive by comparison. They can be purchased anywhere in the world. Since the imposition of tariffs has now been postponed by the Unites States for 90 days with only 30% of the tariff remaining, China will certainly maintain its economic prominence. 

The Chinese people are essentially well educated and resourceful. The culture is also at an extremely high level. This was brought to the attention of US Vice President JD Vance when he called the Chinese peasants, and they reminded him that Chinese culture is 5,000 years old, while America is only reaching its 250th anniversary. Even Chinese cuisine is probably the most popular in America – and perhaps to a lesser degree all over the world.

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Zelensky Visits Kyiv Lavra After Russian Drone Strike

Zelensky visited Kyiv Pechersk Lavra after Russia damaged the historic religious complex overnight on Monday. He described it as a targeted attack on the area around the UNESCO-listed monastery and called for a stronger international response as the death toll from the attack rose to 11.

The evident problem is that China was Putin’s main guest at the May 9 parade in Moscow. Not only did the Chinese leader sit next to Putin during the parade, but he spent four days in Putin’s company. I use the term “leader” when I write about the Secretary of the Communist Party of China, President, Dictator Xi Jinping. He has many more titles. This is also important because it is known that when he speaks, he cannot be contradicted. By the way, in this respect he and Putin are similar because their power or titles cannot be defined.

Chinese troops are not formally fighting on the side of Moscow in Ukraine. but they constituted the largest contingent in the parade besides the Russian troops. Even the dictator of North Korea was not present in Moscow on May 9. Without exaggeration or doubt, it can be said that Putin’s choreography was to present to the world that Russia and China are closest friends. It is clear that a photo with the Chinese leader is more significant for Putin than a photo with the relatively clownish leader of North Korea, whose soldiers are actually on the ground and its missiles in the air in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

China claims that it does not transfer weapons or military equipment to Moscow. There is much evidence that contradicts this. China sometimes diplomatically abstains from voting in the UN Security Council when Moscow votes against a resolution. This so-called neutral position is only because the Kremlin does not need China’s vote, since Moscow can use its veto.

One might think that China, with its self-proclaimed neutrality and limited manifest bravado, is not as aggressive or brutal as presented by the West – that is, until one gets acquainted with what is happening inside China, the repression of its own people, any opposition and the press. In particular, the brutality toward various other groups or ethnicities, starting with the Muslim Uyghurs. There is a genocide going on within China that the whole world sees but somehow tolerates because it does not affect it directly.

China takes advantage of this. Inexpensive products are the reward for silence or at least acquiescence.

As for Ukraine, the biggest fault of China against Ukraine is that China is the largest consumer of Moscow’s oil and gas. China and India together enable Moscow’s war economy. Only limited personal and sectoral sanctions have been imposed on China by Ukraine, Europe and the US. Ukraine, in fact, with its war economy, cannot afford an embargo against China. The average Ukrainian with a low salary buys Chinese shirts, watches, etc. There is no alternative.

With the exception of two cases where Ukraine accused China, albeit diplomatically, of delivering munitions and parts to benefit the Russian arsenal and a relatively small number of Chinese mercenaries fighting on Moscow’s side in Ukraine for Moscow’s money, Ukraine maintains relatively even relations with China. Here politics as the art of the possible plays a key role. China is playing and Ukraine participates in the diplomatic game lest, China join the other side.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is one of the smartest leaders in the world. So far, he has managed to outwit Ukraine-hater Donald Trump, who would like to be in the Putin and Xi club, but for now American courts are getting in the way. True, this may only be a temporary phenomenon. Trump is still supplying Ukraine with weapons and intelligence. That can change, so Zelensky continues to appease the American leader primarily with flattery.

China remains a mystery. A mystery is better than an enemy. The most important thing is that it is not a threat to Ukraine, and also that in the final calculation China and Russia should become less friendly. There are territorial and other conflicts between them that are not currently inflamed. In this case, the potential enemy of my enemy can also become my friend. Zelensky’s game with China is correct and well played.

The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.