Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing about the Russia-Ukraine War
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez last week paid a visit to his counterpart in China, Xi Jinping. It’s always intriguing to speculate what the public show of diplomacy is actually signaling to various parties in the world.
Brief video report from Euronews1:
Relations between China and the EU will be a critical factor as the latest New World Order takes shape. In balance of power terms, it would seem advantageous for the EU to develop a stronger relationship with China as a way to help balance the EU’s position with Russia and the US. The EU’s striving for a common foreign policy is a perennial struggle. But it’s nevertheless important, especially if Trump winds up back in the White House two years from now.
The Russia-Ukraine War played a prominent role in the public diplomacy around this visit:
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly said he would be open to speaking directly with Beijing. The Chinese leader has yet to respond to his overtures, despite several rounds of talks with the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin.
With Friday’s meeting, Sánchez became the first western leader to meet Xi since the Chinese president travelled to Moscow earlier this month for talks with Putin.2
Sánchez was encouraging about the possibilities of China’s recent peace plan, one of several hopeful signs on the diplomatic front lately3, although we’re clearly not in a “Peace Is At Hand” situation.
Xi Jinping stressed that China's position on Ukraine is "coherent and clear", according to the notes of the meeting collected by the official Xinhua agency. That position "consists of promoting peace talks and political order," and has called for "abandoning the mentality of the Cold War and the confrontation of blocs, as well as sanctions and extreme pressures." Xi told his Spanish counterpart that he hopes the parties involved can build "a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture through dialogue and consultation." And, again according to Xinhua, Sánchez has assured "that Spain has a positive evaluation of China's position paper on the political solution of the Ukrainian crisis and appreciates the constructive role of China."4 [my emphasis]
The Spanish government is also signaling that they see Russia as definitely a junior player to China in the current world situation:
Spain sees Russia almost as a "vassal" of China, and that is why in La Moncloa [the Spanish government] they believe that Xi's position is decisive in seeking a way out of the war. Sources in [Sánchez’ administration] consider that in the 12 points of the Beijing plan there are "interesting elements" that coincide with Zelenskyy's proposal for peace.5
Sánchez’ visit comes as Spain assumes the EU Presidency in midyear, which rotates among member nations every six months, at a time that the current situation in the Russia-Ukraine War is showing some public signs that a negotiated end to the war could be more possible than previously:
Spain, a NATO member whose foreign and security policy is closely aligned with that of the United States, is a staunch ally of Ukraine. In July it assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union’s Council, which groups the bloc’s 27 national governments.
Sanchez also accused Putin of seeking to “weaken” the EU’s “multilateral project for peace and welfare”.
The Spanish prime minister said he agreed with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s view that relations between the EU and China were “complex” and he stressed the need for reciprocity and a level playing field between them.
The absence of any official engagement between Xi and Zelenskyy since the war broke out has worried EU leaders, not least because it contrasts with signs of close personal ties between Xi and Putin, such as when both leaders greeted one another as “dear friend” in their most recent meeting.6 [my emphasis]
Sanchez urges Xi to include Ukraine in peace talks. Euronews YouTube channel 03/31/2023. (Accessed: 2023-02-04).
Kassam, Ashifa (2023): Spain’s PM urges Beijing to discuss peace plan with Zelenskiy. Guardian 03/31/2023. <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/31/spain-pm-pedro-sanchez-xi-jinping-to-talk-directly-volodymyr-zelenskiy> (Accessed: 2023-02-04).
Miller, Bruce (2023): Prospects for peace negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine War as of the end of March. Contradicciones 03/30/2023. <https://brucemillerca.substack.com/p/prospects-for-peace-negotiations>
Cué, Carlos E. & Abril, Guillermo (2023): Sánchez defiende ante Xi el plan de paz de Zelenski y pide diálogo para frenar “una guerra ilegal”. El País 31.03.2023. <https://elpais.com/internacional/2023-03-31/sanchez-busca-convencer-a-xi-de-que-cualquier-plan-de-paz-en-ucrania-debe-pasar-por-zelenski.html> (Accesssed: 2023-02-04). All translations from the Spanish are mine.
Ibid.
Spanish PM urges China’s Xi to speak with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy. Aljazeera 03/31/2023. <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/31/spanish-pm-urges-chinas-xi-to-speak-with-ukraines-zelenskyy> (Accessed: 2023-02-04).