China again “abstains” in Security Council resolution “against Russia’s territorial annexation”

China has again "abstained" from the UN Security Council resolution against Russia's annexation of Ukraine's territory, following its 2014 annexation of Crimea.

At the initiative of the United States and Albania, China, along with India and Brazil, abstained from voting at the UN Security Council meeting held at the UN Headquarters in New York on September 30th (local time).

The resolution stipulates that the territorial annexation referendums held in four Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson - are "illegal and ineffective" and all UN member states to the results of a referendum and a request not to recognize territorial changes in these areas.

China's Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun clarified at the meeting that day that China would abstain from voting, while "respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country," "adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," He reaffirmed the Chinese government's position on the war in Ukraine, including "emphasizing the country's reasonable security concerns" and "supporting all efforts to help resolve the crisis peacefully." He then referred to an early truce, easing tensions, and securing space for negotiations as justification for his abstention.

In March 2014, China abstained from voting on a Security Council resolution to nullify the referendum announcing Crimea as Russian territory. At the time, China said it did not approve of promoting conflict, citing reasons such as, "If the resolution passes, it will become more complicated."

China's decision to abstain from the vote appears to be based on its relationship with Russia, which has strengthened its anti-U.S. strategic cooperation, as well as the impact it will have on China's frontier ethnic minorities, such as Xinjiang and Tibet, and the Taiwan issue.

As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia exercised its veto power, so the resolution will not be adopted regardless of China's position. It is not without burden.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, China has been trying to repair its relations with Europe, which have deteriorated further. There is also the view that China's abstaining from the Security Council resolution this time "could further narrow the movement to improve relations with Europe."