EU should keep its distance from US so it can work with Beijing for peace: China Daily editorial

The April visit to China French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Saturday, one day after China issued its position paper on the Ukraine crisis, undoubtedly represents an opportunity for both sides to strengthen their coordination on the issue.

In saying "the fact that China is engaging in peace efforts is a good thing", the French leader indicated the significance he attaches to the role China can play in promoting a negotiated settlement to the conflict. The neutrality of China, which was clearly expressed in its position paper, has been welcomed by the United Nations, Ukraine and Russia. As a non-interested party and a responsible major country that keeps its communication channels with both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Europe and the United States, open, China is in a unique position to act as a mediator in future negotiations between not only Moscow and Kyiv, but also Moscow and Washington, since it is no secret that it is Washington pulling Kyiv's strings.

The slighting of the document by Washington and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization just prove how accurately it has hit the nail on the head in identifying the solution to the crisis.

Those claiming it lacks "specifics" are either those who naively believe that there is a ready-made, off-the-shelf answer to such a complicated crisis or those turning a blind eye to the root cause of the conflict. One such critic is US President Joe Biden, who commenting on China's position paper on Friday, said: "If Putin is applauding it, so how could it be any good? I'm not being facetious. I'm being deadly earnest."

Not facetious perhaps, but there is black humor in his remark as the only thing Biden would be willing to applaud China for is if it provided weapons to either Ukraine or Russia. The neutrality of China makes it a thorn in the US' side, as it is a major country that can help advance a true peace process.

That being said, the US is "deadly earnest" in trying to smear China by alleging it is providing military support to Russia — a new campaign it has recently started in a bid to hinder any efforts by China to promote peace. As part of this campaign, the Biden administration added five Chinese companies to a trade blacklist on Friday for allegedly supporting the Russian military without providing any evidence to substantiate the claim. This is a dangerous sign that the Ukraine crisis is becoming a new excuse for Washington to attack foreign companies and entities using long-arm jurisdiction.

That European Union leaders are likely to visit Beijing in the first half of this year, according to Chinese Ambassador to the EU Fu Cong, is a good sign as it shows that the bloc remains conscious of the necessity of acting independently from the US in its dealing with China.

As a responsible player championing multilateralism, the EU, as well as the major EU members, particularly France and Germany, should value China's neutrality, just as China cherishes the bloc's strategic independence from the US over Sino-EU relations.