Mediation with Chinese Characteristics: The Cases of Ukraine and Palestine

• In Event: Re-assessing Chinese Politics: Change and Continuity

Abstract

Since the beginning of the new millennium, China has intensified the dynamics of its external political relations, motivated by the search for greater political influence in many regions, the development of infrastructure projects such as BRI, and the search for resources. This more active global diplomacy at bilateral or multilateral levels forced the Chinese government to increase its international exposure and assume more responsibility for important issues. In the past, Beijing has avoided intervening in international military conflicts, but the greater visibility of Chinese diplomacy puts it in a more active role as an international mediator. Gradually, China has increasingly seen itself as a peacemaker in the international context through its participation in UN peacekeeping missions and in direct involvement as a mediator in the settlement of conflicts. Based on a careful collection of primary and secondary sources, the author attempts to identify the particularities of China's mediation of international conflicts in two international scenarios: the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Can we say that there is mediation with Chinese characteristics? The author analyzes the conflict resolution processes led by China for the wars mentioned and tries to find patterns of action, peculiarities, and contradictions. The author wants to examine the motivations of this country in the mediation processes in which it was involved, the modus operandi, and the contrast with the mediation processes carried out by Western actors such as the European Union or the United States.

Author

• Jorge Tavares da Silva, University of Beira Interior (UBI)