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China tries to stop questions about Ukraine stance by asking G20 not to discuss war
- Beijing is lobbying Indonesia to take the conflict off the agenda at the group’s summit in Bali, saying it should stick to economic matters
- China’s public fence-sitting is proving to be a diplomatic headache amid growing scrutiny of its close relationship with Russia
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China has tried to move the war in Ukraine off the agenda of a major international summit as its public ambivalence over the Russian invasion threatens to damage its public image.
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Chinese leaders and diplomats have been making concerted efforts over the past week, arguing that Ukraine should not be discussed at this year’s Group of 20 summit in Bali despite the gravity of the situation.
They argue that the G20 is a platform to address major economic problems plaguing the post-pandemic world and it should stick to its core mission and not be hijacked by the West’s agenda.
The agenda is still being finalised and observers say it is too early to determine if Beijing’s efforts will succeed, even though the Indonesian hosts have indicated they hold similar views.
The observers say such attempts to avoid the issue, which have spiralled into diplomatic embarrassment for Beijing, are largely driven by China’s desire to avoid possible disruptions at home and abroad ahead of a sweeping leadership reshuffle later this year.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began the efforts during a telephone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on Monday, when he emphasised that the G20 should be the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”.
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