【WSJ: China's diplomatic style is consistent — whether on Ukraine or the Middle East, China tends toward moderate peace proposals】

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an article discussing the foreign ministers’ meeting between China and Pakistan, as well as China’s supported Middle East peace initiative, comparing China’s positions on the Ukraine and Iran peace issues. This piece provides a line-by-line micro-commentary.

"China’s Middle East peace initiative evokes Beijing’s 12-point plan three years ago aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict."

Micro-commentary: This is the central argument of the WSJ article — that China’s diplomatic style exhibits continuity. Whether on Ukraine or the Middle East (Iran), China consistently promotes a "12-point-style" moderate peace proposal, emphasizing ceasefire and negotiation, while avoiding direct sanctions or pressure on conflicting parties.

"Previous attempts failed because China lacked the political influence or military deployment to forcefully push forward the plan."

Micro-commentary: This reflects the WSJ’s critical perspective. It argues that China’s Ukraine peace plan fell through due to insufficient hard power (military presence) and political determination to enforce it, leaving the plan stuck on paper.

"With Pakistan emerging as a potential negotiator, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Dal in Beijing on Tuesday."

Micro-commentary: This describes a concrete anchor point in current geopolitical dynamics — China and Pakistan are now engaging on mediating the Iran issue.

"The five-point Middle East plan calls for halting hostilities, immediate peace negotiations, and ensuring the safety of non-military facilities such as ships."

Micro-commentary: This reconstructs the core demands of China’s Middle East initiative — securing safety and trade. Unlike the Ukraine proposal, which emphasizes territorial integrity, this one focuses more on restoring regional order and economic connectivity.

"Similarities can be seen in statements from both Iran and Ukraine... Neither describes the conflict as a 'war,' and neither mentions the United States."

Micro-commentary: This reveals China’s diplomatic style and technique: avoiding labeling the conflict as "war" to reduce its perceived severity; omitting "United States" to exclude U.S. interference in China-led resolution efforts.

"Both call for respect for territorial integrity — a matter of primary importance to Beijing."

Micro-commentary: Regardless of Ukraine or the Middle East, respecting state territorial integrity remains China’s long-standing moral baseline and supreme principle in diplomacy.

"And neither document was issued under a leader’s name."

Micro-commentary: China’s initiatives on Ukraine and the Middle East were both released by official media or diplomatic departments, not by top leaders personally.

"Another similarity: both proposals contain sharp messages directed clearly at partner countries involved in the respective conflicts."

Micro-commentary: China’s peace plans are based on objective right and wrong, not favoritism toward its partners.

"The new plan subtly criticizes Iran’s attacks on vessels… Meanwhile, the most crucial aspect of Beijing’s 2023 Ukraine peace proposal was its implicit warning to Moscow not to attack nuclear power plants or use nuclear weapons."

Micro-commentary: This illustrates China’s soft constraints on its partners — reminding them not to cross red lines. Iran’s restrictions on Strait shipping also harm China’s energy interests. In the Ukraine plan, warnings to Russia emphasized the nuclear facilities and weapons red lines to prevent escalation from spiraling out of control and endangering China itself.

"China typically avoids involvement in global crises… China declined President Trump’s call to assist in restoring shipping in the Persian Gulf."

Micro-commentary: China’s current strategy is to refrain from direct intervention, instead acting as a mediator: no troop deployments; no clear alignment; rejecting U.S.-assigned missions; only offering proposals.

This WSJ report accurately captures China’s current mindset in global conflicts:

First, refusal to "take the blame": China does not want to play the role of “world policeman” like the U.S., bearing the cost of war.

Second, pursuit of "cost-effectiveness": through low-profile peace initiatives, China plays the role of a responsible major country in mediation, while avoiding getting bogged down.

Third, safeguarding the "core circle": based on the merits of each case, China gently reprimands its partners (Russia, Iran) for overstepping boundaries, thus protecting China’s strategic interest corridors in the Middle East and Eurasia (energy, trade).

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861264553599104/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.