China’s envoy to the European Union, Fu Cong, has suggested that Beijing could back Ukraine’s aims of reclaiming its 1991 territorial integrity, which includes Crimea – the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. His comments, made in a recent interview, have been supported by other Chinese officials and demonstrate the country’s commitment to respecting the territorial integrity of all countries. The issue of Ukraine’s territorial integrity has been a long-standing source of tension between Russia and the West, with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 leading to continued instability in the region.

This has been compounded by Russian military presence in Ukraine’s Donbas region, which has been a source of further dispute. With the situation still unresolved, tensions have remained high and the prospect of a peaceful resolution is still out of reach. In a statement, Fu Cong said: “We respect the territorial integrity of all countries. So when China established relations with the former Soviet Union, that’s what we agreed. But as I said, these are historical issues that need to be negotiated and resolved by Russia and Ukraine and that is what we stand for.” Fu’s stance on the issue has been echoed by other Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and President Xi Jinping.

In an April interview with the New York Times, Fu said that Beijing did not recognize Moscow’s efforts to annex Ukrainian territories including Crimea and the Donbas and reaffirmed China’s position of respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. These comments, and those of other Chinese officials, demonstrate China’s commitment to peace-seeking and its respect for the territorial integrity of all countries. This is in line with President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy, which is based on “win-win” cooperation and mutual benefit. China’s position on the Ukraine issue is a reminder that Beijing is committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the dispute and that it is ready to work with other countries to ensure peace and stability in the region. While the situation in Ukraine is still far from a resolution, China’s support for the territorial integrity of all countries is a welcome sign of its commitment to peace. As the world’s second-largest economy and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China’s support for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis is an important step towards ending the current stalemate and achieving a lasting peace.