On October 27, the head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk met with the Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong and said that Ukraine highly appreciates the strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China, with the comprehensive development of our relations remaining a priority.
This is not the first compliment on behalf of the current Ukrainian authorities toward Ukrainian-Chinese relations. Yet again it comes from the Parliament, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is avoiding statements of akin nature. It appears that a kind of "Chinese lobby" is forming in Ukraine, particularly in the Parliament, aiming to determine an alternative to the pro-Western foreign policy rhetoric performed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Perhaps, it is no coincidence that the group on inter-parliamentary relations with China is the largest one in the Verkhovna Rada.
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament said that Ukraine is interested in deepening the friendship and cooperation with China based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. There is no doubt regarding the cooperation: China is Ukraine's largest trade partner, and there is a reason to expect further strengthening of this position. "Friendship" is a less specific concept, and especially so in international politics. Observers point out that consistently China has not supported the "Ukrainian" resolutions of the UN General Assembly following the Crimean annexation. In addition, Ruslan Stefanchuk pointed out, "We hope that the Chinese side will reconsider its position and will support Ukraine during the voting on UN resolutions regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state."
There are reasonable doubts in this regard. China's position in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is influenced by its close relations with Russia, which have a long history and a busy agenda. In addition, many critical moments and disappointments in Sino-Ukrainian relations have taken place in recent years: from the lawsuit for the breach of a 2012 loan agreement where Ukraine was supposed to supply China with grains in payment for a US$ 3 billion loan that is granted to the recent Motor Sich case.
Ukraine occupies a relatively modest place in the Chinese big strategy and large-scale initiative "One Belt, One Road". In search of a gateway to the European market, China does not put much hope on Ukraine, at least yet.
China and Ukraine have had a declared strategic partnership for a long time: the Joint Declaration on the Establishment and Development of Strategic Partnership Relations was signed by Viktor Yanukovych and Hu Jintao back in 2011. This document refers to support for sovereignty, territorial integrity; respect for the choice of development paths; non-use of force or the threat of force, as well as economic or another kind of pressure. The document is of a framework nature and determines the intentions of the two states back in 2011. At that time, both Ukrainian and Chinese foreign policy agendas were different. Ukraine was looking for a balance in the traditional East-West dilemmas, while China was yet approaching the global plans that today are still considered a hallmark of its big strategy. The world was also different: American leadership was stronger, Russia's policy was not so aggressive, and international security institutions were more reliable.
The meaning of the term "strategic partnership" may have also changed, at least in the context of Ukrainian foreign policy. In the context of Russian aggression, Kyiv pays special attention to such concepts as "allies", "coalition" or "friend". The course for Euro-Atlantic integration is enshrined in the Сonstitution, and the possibilities for maneuver have been significantly narrowed. Thus, in recent years, it seems that rapprochement even with such important partners as China is determined by the current state of relations of both Ukraine and China with the United States and Europe. In these circumstances, the strategic partnership with China does not look like a promise of future potential, but as a consolidation of its limitations.
The talks in Kyiv about the strategic partnership with Beijing will remain topical. The 2011 Declaration on Strategic Partnership also depicted a desire to intensify political dialogue at all levels. It is now time to test the readiness of the parties for akin steps - as well as for the joint efforts "to ensure peace, stability, and security in the world and particular regions".
