Nuclear weapons should not be used in Ukraine conflict

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that Russia should not use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict. The message the Chinese President gave to Russia during his meeting with the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is pleasing to the West. This indicates a change in China’s stand, which has been with Russia in the Ukraine conflict. North Korea, which China influences, is constantly threatening South Korea and the United States with nuclear attacks. But China is not ready to send such a message against neighbouring North Korea. Against that backdrop, this reaction from China over a warning from a responsible country like Russia is noteworthy.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was on a visit to China. He met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. European countries are also looking at Chancellor Scholz’s visit with suspicion at a time when relations with China are strained. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his displeasure over it and warned that it would leave Germany isolated in Europe. However, during Chancellor Scholz’s visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s statements about Russia caught everyone’s attention. Chinese President Xi Jinping said Russia should not use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict.

President Xi Jinping and Scholz announced that both countries concur against using nuclear weapons. Also, both leaders warned that a nuclear war should not be started, as it is not affordable for anyone. This change in China’s stand, which has sided with Russia in the Ukraine conflict and warned the West, is significant. China, which has warned Russia against nuclear war, has not reprimanded its neighbour North Korea in strong terms against nuclear war. On the contrary, there are claims that China is behind North Korea’s nuclear threats. Therefore, this stance taken by China against the nuclear war warning given by Russia is seemingly two-faced. President Xi Jinping using the visit of the German Chancellor to China to issue the warning is also significant.

After Russia attacked Ukraine, China took a stand on Russia’s side. For that, China had also accepted the threat of Western sanctions. But later, it was revealed that some Chinese companies and banks had withdrawn from transactions with Russia due to the threat of US and Western sanctions. Since then, this warning that Russia is now getting from China over a nuclear war shows that China’s relations with Russia are not smooth. At the same time, German Chancellor Scholz, who is visiting China, is also facing opposition in Europe.

The US also expressed concern over Scholz’s approval of Chinese investment for the port of Hamburg before he visited China. At the same time, the constituent parties in Germany’s ruling coalition have warned that Scholz’s visit will indicate supporting the unilateral and anti-human rights policies of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Germany’s state-run news channel Deutsche Welle also reported that Scholz’s visit to China was controversial.

Nonetheless, Chancellor Olaf Sholz arrived in China with a delegation of 60 people, including leading entrepreneurs. More importantly, after China started using aggressive military tactics against Taiwan, Germany challenged China by sending a delegation to Taiwan. However, there are indications that this was a preparation for Chancellor Scholz’s visit to China. This may increase the opposition to Germany from Europe. French President Macron’s warning underscores this point.