China could play ‘substantial’ peace role in Ukraine as US seeks a quick deal

China could send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to help preserve any negotiated ceasefire in its war with Russia – as long as they are working with non-Nato countries like India – a former PLA colonel suggested.

Advertisement

Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, said that China had “sufficient troops and military strength” to contribute to an international post-war effort.

“However, if peacekeeping operations are conducted along with European countries, Russia might see it as another form of Nato presence, wouldn’t they?” Zhou said in an interview on the sidelines of last week’s Munich Security Conference.

As the three-year war in Ukraine moves quickly into a new stage, China’s role in peace negotiations and in the post-conflict situation came into sharp focus at the forum – Europe’s largest security gathering – which drew to a close on Sunday.

The United States is insisting on a quick end to the war and officials from the Donald Trump administration are set to meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia this week to start thrashing out the rough contours of a settlement.

Advertisement

In Munich, officials and experts were doubtful that China would be involved in the early stages of the discussions but most were convinced that Beijing would play a role eventually.

  

Read More

Leave a Reply