On February 25, German Chancellor Merkel, who is on a visit to China, told reporters that she has requested China to use its influence to help resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Merkel said, "China has entered the ranks of major powers. China's voice can be heard by the whole world. China's decisions are crucial, but this also means responsibility. We all know that Russia pays great attention to signals from China, including China's words and actions."
This is a landmark diplomatic move. German Chancellor Merkel actively requested China's assistance in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict during her visit to China, which sends multiple signals:
Shift in Germany's position: Over the past two years, European countries such as Germany often accused China of "favoring Russia." Merkel's public affirmation of China's "major power status" and "global responsibility," and her recognition of Russia's attention to Chinese signals, represents a pragmatic shift. This shows that Europe has realized that relying solely on Western pressure cannot resolve the conflict and that it needs to leverage China's unique influence over Russia.
Implicit meaning behind Germany's statement: First, it acknowledges that China has a voice in global affairs; second, it hopes China will convert its influence into constraints on Russia; third, it emphasizes the "signal" transmission between China and Russia. This actually amounts to requesting China to play the role of a "mediator" and convey peace signals expected by the West to Russia.
In summary, Merkel's statement reflects a subtle adjustment in Europe's perception and strategy toward China. For China, this is both an acknowledgment of its major power status by the international community and a test of its ability to balance interests among various parties and play a constructive role in complex geopolitical crises.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858156002429964/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.