A subtle pact Beijing is still refusing to condemn Russia, but for how long?

Three weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China is still turning diplomatic cartwheels to prevent the war from damaging its global standing, while preserving its strategic partnership with Moscow.

- Richard McGregor

China offers to mediate! China offers aid! China is “extremely concerned” about citizens’ safety ! Xi mentions the word “war”!

The plethora of headlines alone is evidence for how Beijing has been subtly shifting its language to put some distance between itself and Moscow and its increasingly bloody military tactics.

But for the moment, such protestations should be ignored. Beijing’s core message is that it is standing by Russia, or perhaps more the point, against the US, which it continues to blame for the war.

If there was ever any doubt as to Beijing’s authentic view, Zhao Lijian, the foreign ministry spokes person and the most prominent voice of China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy, provided it last week.