The “sovereignty paradox” in China’s response to the Russia-Ukraine war

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article analyzes China’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in light of its long-standing advocacy for state sovereignty and territorial integrity. It outlines Beijing’s reaction to the invasion, examining its political and diplomatic responses, the official discourse and prevalent narratives about Ukraine in China, as well as the recent growth of Sino-Russian economic and military cooperation. In order to contextualize Beijing’s position, the article summarizes the key tenets of China’s foreign policy, concluding that the single most strongly and persistently advocated principle among these is the assertion of state sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference. The subsequent analysis contrasts China’s (non-)response to the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with its extremely vocal opposition to previous encroachments on state sovereignty, particularly as they pertain to China itself. It associates this “sovereignty paradox” with the fundamentally Realist (rather than normative) nature of China’s foreign policy calculus vis-à-vis Russia and Ukraine.