Last week, Ukraine announced that it had captured two Chinese men serving in Russia’s armed forces on the Ukrainian eastern front. That is a bombshell revelation to the international community that once again debunks the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) claim to neutrality since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian (林劍) used ambiguous wording in response to Ukrainian authorities’ demands that Beijing clarify its actions. Lin reiterated that China has “always required its citizens to avoid areas of armed conflict.”
His answer does not explain why Chinese would appear in a Russian military unit, nor does it elucidate why Chinese would participate in Russia’s war, who deployed them to Russia and how they were able to join Russia’s military organization.
Experts have determined from interview footage taken of the prisoners that one of the soldiers does not know any foreign languages and could not be a typical foreign mercenary. It is possible that they are acting as “military observers” attempting to accumulate real-world warfare experience and data from Ukrainian battlefields to prepare China for participation in future conflicts.
The incident challenges China’s assertions that it has “never given military assistance to Russia.” Apart from Chinese soldiers, there has long been international evidence that points to China providing Russia with military vehicles, drones, and military-civilian dual-use technologies and products. Today, even Chinese human assets are appearing on the battlefield, and Beijing’s supposed role as a “neutral mediator” is nothing more than domestic theater.
On the one hand, Beijing is covertly supporting Moscow; on the other, it is trying to curry favor with Kyiv, claiming it could help Ukraine rebuild. Ukraine should beware suspicious people bearing gifts. No faith should be put in Beijing’s “peace” offers.
Since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, China has not once condemned Russia for its actions. Instead, it has voted in every major international organization to oppose any sanctions on Russia, and is helping Moscow to avoid sanctions via China-registered, convenience-flagged ghost shipping fleets and product origin washing across the globe. Now proof in the flesh shows that it is helping Russia. If China keeps denying its guilt, it would be a realization of a strategic alliance between Russia and China, and the formation of a new axis.
It would be a fruitless endeavor for Ukraine to keep expecting China to play a peacemaker role in Russia’s war. The CCP’s core nature does not accord with the deeds of a peace-promoter, but is more akin to a tiger whose sights are locked onto unwitting prey. Beijing is just waiting for an opportunity to strike. If one day, Ukraine turned into a jointly administered testing ground for China and Russia, it would set the stage for endless disasters in regional and international security.
Elliot Yao is a reviewer.
Translated by Tim Smith
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