CGTN Europe spoke to Zhao Hai, Director of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
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00:00Let's talk to Zhao Hai, Director of International Political Studies at the Chinese Academy of
00:05Social Sciences National Institute for Global Strategy. Good to see you. Welcome to the
00:10program. And what did you make of Wang Yi's press conference?
00:17Thank you for having me, Jamie. I think it's very important to remember that we are at a
00:21critical juncture of history here. And at this particular moment of two sessions,
00:26Foreign Minister Wang Yi came out and made a very stark contrast between China and the United
00:32States, where the U.S. is making the world a worse and dangerous place, and China is trying to
00:38uphold and making steadfast signs that China will be very consistent to support the current
00:45international system and also to stand with the Global South to make sure that the United Nations
00:52system, the international law will be upheld. And moving forward, China will act on principle.
00:57China has its own visions for the future to move the world towards a more equitable and orderly
01:04international order, which will be multipolar and multilateral. So I think this is a very
01:10important press conference at a very critical moment. Well, let's talk about a very critical
01:16moment for Ukraine. Wang Yi said China wants to continue playing a constructive role in the
01:22resolution of the Ukraine crisis. What might that look like?
01:30Well, there are a couple of things. First of all, Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that on the second
01:36day of the conflict, China has already been promoting peace resolutions and also dialogue
01:42and negotiations between the two sides. That is a very important thing. And then right now,
01:47when the United States are coming back, trying to negotiate a settlement with Russia and with
01:53Ukraine and European countries are all on the move. China is also offering help with Global
01:59South countries, particularly with Brazil, proposing peace plans. And China can do more behind the
02:05scenes, including promoting post-war reconstruction. And there was a question about China
02:11contributing to peacekeeping. There's different considerations of forms. So in many ways,
02:17China can continue to work for peace behind the scenes and also, you know, helping both sides
02:23with Ukraine and Russia to put them together and try to iron out a possible solutions on this
02:30future deal. Press conferences like this are interesting for what is said and what isn't
02:34said and who is mentioned and who is mentioned. Wang Yi did not once mention Donald Trump by name.
02:41What does that say? What does that suggest to you?
02:47That means China still believes that President Trump wants a deal with China. However,
02:52he's using the wrong tactic. He's continuing to pressure China, you know, adding 10 percent
02:57after 10 percent and using the pretext of fentanyl, knowing very well that China has been cooperating
03:03with the previous administration and willing to work with him on this particular issue.
03:07So I think China is refusing the tactic of pressuring China on this particular issue
03:14and telling President Trump that if he really wants to negotiate, he needs to really signal
03:19this and come back to the talking table. So without mentioning his name, basically China
03:25is leaving room for that maneuvering, diplomatic maneuvering down the road.
03:30Xiaohai, good to see you. And thank you for that. Xiaohai, director of international political
03:34studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences National Institute for Global Strategy.