Ukraine tests Beijing's skill in managing its conflicted interests

The Moscow summit between the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was described by many international media as a visit that may change the world order. Xi's visit came at a time of great need to isolate Putin, but the rest of the world remains puzzled about precisely how far China will go in supporting Russia in its horrific war in Ukraine.

- Yu Jie

While China demonstrates a willingness to maintain the status quo in its relationship with its biggest nuclear neighbour, Xi has still not provided a straightforward answer on exactly what kind of support is on offer, beyond deepening bilateral trade ties and elusively worded further coordination in international affairs. Nor is there a clear next step for Beijing's "peace plan" until a call between Xi and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, takes place.

Judging from the joint communique issued by Xi and Putin, Beijing rehashed a call for political settlement on Ukraine. But the document offers little detail on how Kyiv and Moscow can reach that without military withdrawal by Russia.

The communique also tellingly omits any inclusion of the previously touted phrase of a "no limits" partnership with Russia, first referred to in January 2021. Instead, Xi stressed a relationship based on "no-alliance, no-confrontation and no-targeting against any third parties". The removal of the no limits partnership almost certainly displays a new sense of agonising on Beijing's bilateral ties with Moscow.