Wenting Meng1; 1 East China Normal University (ECNU), China
Discussion
This study examines how the Russia-Ukraine conflict has influenced China’s diplomacy within the United Nations, with a focus on China’s role in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Following the onset of the conflict, China assumed a unique “balancer” role between the U.S. and Russia in the UNSC, marking a shift from its traditional alignment with Russia. This approach allowed China to uphold its strategic partnership with Russia while playing a more active role in moderating tensions, thereby enhancing its diplomatic standing in the UNSC. Within the FAO, China’s stance took on a different dimension. The Chinese FAO Director-General’s neutral position on condemning Russia complicated the debate over the causes of the global food crisis, drawing attention to the effects of both the conflict and sanctions on food prices. This neutrality highlighted China’s influence in the FAO and intensified discussions among Global South countries on the broader impact of sanctions. By tracing these cases within the UNSC and FAO, this study reveals the far-reaching effects of China-Russia relations on China’s multilateral diplomacy. It shows how China’s “balancing diplomacy” is adapting to a multipolar world order.
