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Xi Jinping, chairman of the Communist Party of China, waves to those present at the closing ceremony of the National People’s Congress on Monday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yonhap)

Could China replace the US as a peaceful mediator for the international community?

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who has officially begun his third term as president, is flexing his diplomatic muscles with back-to-back meetings with Russia and Ukraine. Now that he’s consolidated one-man rule over both the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the government, he appears to be turning abroad and attempting to build a Chinese order distinct from the US-led world order.

The news of Xi’s diplomatic agenda took many by surprise on Monday. Reuters reported that Xi plans to travel to Russia as early as next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shortly after that, the Wall Street Journal quoted “people familiar with the matter” as saying that Xi was planning to hold a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his meeting with Putin.

When asked about these reports on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin blandly remarked that “China stays in communication with all parties.”

“China is ready to [. . .] work with the international community and continue to play a constructive part in the political settlement of the [war in Ukraine],” the spokesperson added.

Whereas Western countries have actively assisted Ukraine since the war began at the end of February, China has largely contented itself with observing the conflict from afar. During a summit with the US last November, China only agreed on the principle of not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, without actively supporting peace talks.

China’s first meaningful step came on Feb. 24, on the first anniversary of the war. In a position statement on a political resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, China made 12 proposals, including respecting sovereignty, ending the fighting, initiating peace talks and suspending unilateral sanctions.

The US and NATO were unimpressed by China’s proposals, but Russia and Ukraine indicated their willingness to engage in dialogue. Apparently taking that as an encouraging sign, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed “willingness to continue playing a constructive role.”

On Friday, the same day that Xi cemented his third term in office, China offered a surprising demonstration of its capabilities in peaceful mediation. Xi brought in envoys from Saudi Arabia and Iran, two longtime rivals in the Middle East, and brokered an agreement to restore diplomatic relations, which have been severed for seven years, since 2016.

Wang Yi, a member of the CCP Politburo and the coordinator of China’s foreign policy, flashed his signature smile as he stood between Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban, national security advisor of Saudi Arabia, during their handshake.

“In keeping with its responsibility as a major country and the wishes of the countries concerned, China will continue to play a constructive role in facilitating the proper settlement of hot-spot issues around the worldy,” Wang remarked after the agreement.

“The deal indicates China is prepared to take on a larger role in the region,” AFP said, summarizing remarks by Jonathan Fulton, a nonresident senior fellow at the US-based think tank the Atlantic Council.

Fulton added that China may think “there is space to challenge US preponderance in the Middle East.”

China’s series of diplomatic maneuvers are attracting unusual attention because China has reached a striking breakthrough toward resolving a major world conflict that has remained intractable to the US and others. The simmering conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran has created serious instability in the Middle East as the civil war in Yemen enters its ninth year.

Meanwhile, the US’ relations with Iran were wrecked by the Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal in May 2018, and the US’ “energy alliance” with Saudi Arabia has been strained by the killing of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018 and last year’s dispute over increasing crude oil production.

In short, China is making headway in a region where the US’ foreign policy has run aground.

Ukraine is expected to be an even bigger challenge for Xi. The US and its allies have been pumping huge amounts of war supplies into Ukraine as they wait for Russia to give in. But Russia isn’t likely to accept defeat, given the irreparable harm that would cause to the national interest of a nuclear power.

If Xi can produce a reasonable compromise at a time when a protracted war has become a fait accompli, China’s prestige as a peaceful mediator will get a huge boost.

The Wall Street Journal suggested that “the new surge of diplomacy reflects a conviction on the part of Mr. Xi and the Communist Party that China can offer an alternative to the US-led model of international relations by relying on commercial ties rather than military might to sway the decisions of other countries.”

Xi also promised to “pursue shared development with the world” in his speech in the closing ceremony of China’s National People’s Congress on Monday while calling for the actualization of multilateralism, the reform of the global governance system and the construction of an open global economy. While Xi made no mention of the US, he left no doubt of his intentions to lean into diplomatic activities aimed at setting up a “multipolar system” that will enable China to play a major role in shaping the world order, superseding the US-centered “unipolar system.”

US President Joe Biden’s response to China’s moves was muted. When asked whether he would soon meet with Xi Jinping during a press conference following his summit with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday, Biden said he would.

White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan added that Biden looks forward to talking with Xi at some point in the future once China’s new leadership is established.

By Choi Hyun-june, Beijing correspondent

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]