Ukraine war: China unveils 12-point peace plan as it calls for ceasefire

Published

2 years ago

February 24, 2023

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China has called for a ceasefire and peace talks in Ukraine on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.

Beijing’s foreign ministry urged all parties to “avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions” in the hope of preventing the crisis from “deteriorating further or spiralling out of control”.

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A paper published by the ministry on Friday warned “conflict and war benefit no one” and said everyone involved must “stay rational and exercise restraint”.

But the proposal has been branded an “attempt at public relations” by China, which one year ago said it has a “no limits friendship” with Russia.

It has yet to condemn its ally or describe the war as an “invasion” – and has also criticised Western sanctions imposed on Moscow.

President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a “peace speech” on Friday to mark the anniversary, when he is likely to call for peace while avoiding direct criticism of Vladimir Putin’s regime.

This week the US expressed concerns China was contemplating supplying “lethal weapons” to Russia which would have “serious consequences”.

However, a 12-point peace plan for Ukraine unveiled by Beijing demands:

• The sovereignty of all countries is respected
• Abandoning the Cold War mentality
• Ceasing hostilities
• Resuming peace talks
• Resolving the humanitarian crisis
• Protecting civilians and prisoners of war (PoWs)
• Keeping nuclear power plants safe
• Reducing strategic risks
• Facilitating grain exports
• Stopping unilateral sanctions
• Keeping industrial and supply chains stable
• Promoting post-conflict reconstruction

Nuclear wars must be avoided

In addition to the 12-point plan, the document said “nuclear weapons must not be used” and “nuclear wars must not be fought”.

“We oppose development, use of biological or chemical weapons by any country under any circumstances,” the paper said.

Earlier this week Vladimir Putin suspended participation in a key nuclear treaty – as he blamed the West for starting the Ukraine war and vowed to “resolve the objectives” of Russia’s “special military operation”.

Ukraine has repeatedly rejected calls for a ceasefire while its territory is occupied by Russian troops.

Analysis: Chinese pledge is typically vague and ambiguous

It hardly presents a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough or path to peace, but – importantly – neither does it suggest that Beijing is moving closer to Russia or preparing to provide Russia with weapons.

The first three points are the most interesting.

To respect the sovereignty of all countries: That’s directed at Russia and Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine but with a dig at America (“double standards must be rejected” – Iraq, Afghanistan etc).

Abandon the Cold War mentality: That’s directed at NATO – a demand that it stop expanding eastwards.

Ceasing hostilities: This is a call for the West to stop arming Ukraine, but also for Russia to cease fire.

This week, the Americans said they had concerns China was considering helping Russia militarily.

But – on the face of it – this latest set of words suggest no major shift in the Chinese position. It’s typically vague and ambiguous.

‘An attempt at public relations’

Kyiv has said a break in fighting would enable the Kremlin to regroup its forces.

The EU’s ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo, said the paper would be studied closely – but insisted it was not a peace proposal and did not mention an aggressor.

Charge d’affaires at the Ukrainian embassy in Beijing, Zhanna Leshchynska, called the paper a “good sign” but questioned China’s neutrality.

“If it is neutrality, then China should talk to both sides, Russia and Ukraine,” she said.

“Now we see the Chinese side mostly talking with Russia, but not Ukraine.

“We will not agree to anything that keeps Ukrainian territories occupied and puts our people at the aggressor’s mercy,” Ms Leshchynska said in an address at the EU mission to China.

International security expert Li Mingjiang dismissed China’s proposal as an “attempt at public relations”, adding: “I’m not convinced that this policy is going to improve their credibility in being an honest broker.”

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Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Beijing’s Renmin University, said neither side is likely to pay much attention to the proposal – but China needed to clarify its stance.

“China feels it necessary to repeat its self-perceived neutrality at this juncture, to save some international inference by not only criticising NATO but also distinguishing itself from Russia’s behaviour,” Shi said.

World

Trump’s USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths, report warns

Published

5 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Trump's USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths, report warns

Around 14 million people could die across the world over the next five years because of cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), researchers have warned.

Children under five are expected to make up around a third (4.5 million) of the mortalities, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.

Estimates showed that “unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030”.

“Beyond causing millions of avoidable deaths – particularly among the most vulnerable – these cuts risk reversing decades of progress in health and socioeconomic development in LMICs [low and middle-income countries],” the report said.

USAID programmes have prevented the deaths of more than 91 million people, around a third of them among children, the study suggests.

The agency’s work has been linked to a 65% fall in deaths from HIV/AIDS, or 25.5 million people.

Eight million deaths from malaria, more than half the total, around 11 million from diarrheal diseases and nearly five million from tuberculosis (TB), have also been prevented.

USAID has been vital in improving global health, “especially in LMICs, particularly African nations,” according to the report.

Established in 1961, the agency was tasked with providing humanitarian assistance and helping economic growth in developing countries, especially those deemed strategic to Washington.

But the Trump administration has made little secret of its antipathy towards the agency, which became an early victim of cuts carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – formerly led by Elon Musk – in what the US government said was part of a broader plan to remove wasteful spending.

In March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more than 80% of USAID schemes had been closed following a six-week review, leaving around 1,000 active.

The US is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, providing around $61bn (£44bn) in foreign assistance last year, according to government data, or at least 38% of the total, and USAID is the world’s leading donor for humanitarian and development aid, the report said.

Between 2017 and 2020, the agency responded to more than 240 natural disasters and crises worldwide – and in 2016 it sent food assistance to more than 53 million people across 47 countries.

The study assessed all-age and all-cause mortality rates in 133 countries and territories, including all those classified as low and middle-income, supported by USAID from 2001 to 2021.

World

Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended amid outrage over leaked phone call

Published

8 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended amid outrage over leaked phone call

Thailand’s prime minister has been suspended after a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian politician caused outrage.

An ethics investigation into Paetongtarn Shinawatra is under way and she could end up being dismissed.

The country’s constitutional court took up a petition from 36 senators, who claimed dishonesty and a breach of ethical standards, and voted 7 to 2 to suspend her.

The prime minister’s call with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, sparked public protests after she tried to appease him and criticised a Thai army commander – a taboo move in a country where the military is extremely influential.

Ms Shinawatra was trying to defuse mounting tensions at the border – which in May resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier.

Thousands of conservative, nationalist protesters held a demo in Bangkok on Saturday to urge her to step down.

Her party is clinging on to power after another group withdrew from their alliance a few weeks ago over the phone call. Calls for a no-confidence vote are likely.

Deputy prime minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will take over temporarily while the court looks into the case.

The 38-year-old prime minister – Thailand‘s youngest ever leader – has 15 days to respond to the probe. She has apologised and said her approach in the call was a negotiating tactic.

The popularity of her government has slumped recently, with an opinion poll showing an approval rating of 9.2%, down from 30.9% in March.

Ms Shinawatra comes from a wealthy dynasty synonymous with Thai politics.

Her father Thaksin Shinawatra – a former Manchester City owner – and aunt Yingluck Shinawatra served as prime minister before her – in the early to mid 2000s – and their time in office also ended ignominiously amid corruption charges and military coups.

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Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

Published

14 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be meeting Donald Trump next Monday, according to US officials.

The visit on 7 July comes after Mr Trump suggested it was possible a ceasefire in Gaza could be reached within a week.

On Sunday, he wrote on social media: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”

At least 60 people killed across Gaza on Monday, in what turned out to be some of the heaviest attacks in weeks.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 56,500 people have been killed in the 20-month war.

The visit by Mr Netanyahu to Washington has not been formally announced and the officials who said it would be going ahead spoke on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli official in Washington also confirmed the meeting next Monday.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was in constant communication with the Israeli government.

She said Mr Trump viewed ending the war in Gaza and returning remaining hostages held by Hamas as a top priority.

The war in Gaza broke out in retaliation for Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw a further 250 taken hostage.

An eight-week ceasefire was reached in the final days of Joe Biden’s US presidency, but Israel resumed the war in March after trying to get Hamas to accept new terms on next steps.

Talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled over whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire.