China says agrees with Russia on "appropriate" handling of Ukraine

[lovuian]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/03/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-china-idUSBREA220GE20140303

China says agrees with Russia on "appropriate" handling of Ukraine

"Both sides believe that the appropriate handling of the Ukraine crisis is very important to maintaining regional peace and stability," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

[Laelth]

1. That's significant. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[lovuian]

5. Seems China had a nuclear umbrella agreement with Ukraine

Inside China: Ukraine gets nuclear umbrella

On Dec. 5, Mr. Yanukovych and President Xi Jinping signed a bilateral treaty officially pronouncing that China and Ukraine are now “strategic partners.”

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/12/inside-china-ukraine-gets-nuke-umbrella/#ixzz2uviilnps
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

“China pledges unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the nuclear-free Ukraine and China further pledges to provide Ukraine nuclear security guarantee when Ukraine encounters an invasion involving nuclear weapons or Ukraine is under threat of a nuclear invasion,” said a joint statement on the pact.

China’s official media, including Xinhua and Global Times, touted the deal with the headline “China Pledges Nuclear Umbrella to Protect Ukraine.”

There is a reason to be cautious here

[TwilightGardener]

8. Hmm. Two thoughts: that might negate our Budapest "treaty" obligation that

Clinton signed, and the other is China is protecting its food security through this, I think. That's just a guess.

[Laelth]

9. I did not know that.

I don't like the source, mind you, so I'm a bit skeptical, but I agree that caution is called for.

-Laelth

[LittleBlue]

2. They're doing exactly what they did during Syria

Sit on the sideline, support Russia by blocking the west, make vague statements and take no active public role.

[qazplm]

14. China: The Romulans of the Real World

As you said, nothing surprising here.

[reformist2]

3. OMG! Boycott China!!!!11!!!

[Pretzel_Warrior]

4. Of course. Not a surprise.

[TwilightGardener]

6. China isn't going to condemn Russia for a land grab now, when it's considering

an island grab for itself in the future. Getting their ducks in a row.

[lovuian]

7. I'm getting the feeling this is a set up

and has been long in the plans

WOW
China is going to side with Russia

[jsr]

10. 2 out of 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power

[TwilightGardener]

13. Completely defangs the UN, might as well not exist.

[lovuian]

18. Makes the UN look like the League of Nations

the League ultimately proved incapable of preventing aggression by the Axis powers in the 1930s

[Scootaloo]

26. Been that way since 1946.

Seriously, I haven't figured out any reason Britain, France, the US, Russia, or China are any more qualified to have permanent veto power than Guyana, Sri Lanka, Portugal, New Zealand, and Senegal.

[1000words]

11. LOL ... ouch.

That's pretty much sealing the deal.

[geek tragedy]

12. they did not state that they agree what constitutes "appropriate handling"

"Both sides believe that the appropriate handling of the Ukraine crisis is very important to maintaining regional peace and stability," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

They just said everyone should behave appropriately, well duh

[lovuian]

16. China is a strategic partner with the Ukraine

the treaty says
China further pledges to provide Ukraine nuclear security guarantee when Ukraine encounters an invasion involving nuclear weapons or Ukraine is under threat of a nuclear invasion,” said a joint statement on the pact.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/12/inside-china-ukraine-gets-nuke-umbrella/#ixzz2uvltYkKM

China wants Ukraine strategic assets too
Ukraine has served as a back channel for China to circumvent Russia’s intellectual property rights protections.

If nukes get involved it may China has said it would defend the Ukraine

[Tommy_Carcetti]

15. I'm sure China dreams of "appropriately handling" Taiwan. nt

[lovuian]

17. Yep of which the Ukraine only recognizes China

and not Taiwan

[Junkdrawer]

19. (STEP)...(STEP)...(STEP)..."IS THERE A PROBLEM HERE?"...

[Junkdrawer]

20. BRICS vs NATO. Quelle surprise!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023535402

[joeybee12]

21. "appropriate" handling...doesn't get more vague than that...nt

[FarCenter]

22. Pehaps China wants Quemoy and Matsu?

John Foster Dulles and brinksmanship.

[Rex]

23. China and Russia agree politically, kinda like water being wet

and not something that is going to change in the foreseeable future imo.

[quinnox]

24. So, now we will have to fight both China on one side, and Russia on the other

This ought to get McCain and the war mongers even more excited!

[pampango]

25. Intersting change from China's position yesterday recognizing the new government and the territorial

integrity of Ukraine.

Bartłomiej E. Nowak ‏@BartENowak Mar 2

China emphasized the territorial integrity of Ukraine, recognized its new authorities and abstained in the UN Security Council.

... both countries agreed it was very important to "appropriately handle" the issue, China's Foreign Ministry said.

"Both sides believe that the appropriate handling of the Ukraine crisis is very important to maintaining regional peace and stability," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

In diplomatic-speak that sounds like pretty neutral.

"Both sides believe that the appropriate handling of the Ukraine crisis is very important to maintaining regional peace and stability" does not mean they agree on how to define "appropriate handling of the crisis.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. China and Russia are worrying about the Ukrainian pipelines and their economies

Ukraine has a lot of goodies

[pampango]

28. China at UN today: China respects Ukraine’s sovereign and territorial integrity but

then says “there are reasons” for the ways things have happened."

http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-14-could-a-cold-war-turn-hot-today/#1626

That's called 'having your cake and eating it, too." China's usual support for sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries (often self-serving but certainly consistent) now becomes support for those things - BUT there can be reasons why they are not such a big deal. That opens a bit of a door that China had left closed in the past.