[ad_1]
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian. Twitter photo
After Ukraine decided to take away the Motor Sich plant that they bought from the Chinese, an asymmetric response from the Celestial Empire followed.
A business delegation from China suddenly arrived in Crimea to study the prospects for investing in the peninsula. Before, during all the years of annexation, the Chinese showed no interest in Crimea. And in general they behaved very correctly in relation to issues so painful for Kiev.
But now the concept seems to have changed. This can be seen from the fact that the visit was supported by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. They advised Ukraine to stop mixing politics and business, a formula that also fits the Motor Sich case.
And this, apparently, are only the first steps of Beijing. The situation is heated by the fact that China is Ukraine’s main trading partner. And if history comes to sanctions against Ukrainian imports, for Kiev it will be plagued with multimillion-dollar losses.
“Strana” understood the “Crimean response” of the People’s Republic of China to the “annexation” of the plant bought by the Chinese.
Chinese business troops in Crimea
On March 10 and 11, the Chinese delegation visited Crimea. It included:
- Head of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Association Chen Shanwen,
- General Director of Beijing “Kai Sheng” Export and Import Trade Company Zhao Kai,
- Chen Yong, Chairman of the Board of HaoLang OJSC.
Chinese delegation in Crimea. Photo from the site rk.gov.ru
For the Chinese, excursions were organized to the Crimean wine and confectionery companies, as well as to the main tourist centers of the peninsula. The conversations were summarized in two round tables: on trade and tourism.
Entrepreneurs in China were especially interested in Crimean wine, poultry meat, and essential oil products.
“Some of these products are already being sold successfully on electronic platforms in China. Others will start trading with China in the near future,” said Crimean Finance Minister Irina Kiviko.
The official released figures on the existing trade relations between Crimea and China. Last year, exports to China already amounted to $ 4.1 million, 12% of the republic’s total exports.
“China is a very promising direction for us. Today it is the third country in terms of volume of exports from Crimea. Our business has prospects of developing in the foreign market,” Kiviko said.
.jpg)
Talks with the Chinese in Crimea on March 10. Photo from the site rk.gov.ru
On March 10, a report on the tourism negotiations appeared on the website of the government of the Crimean resorts.
Crimean authorities asked the Chinese which routes might be of interest to their citizens. They were offered unusual tourist products (not listed).
The Crimean report ends as follows: “Members of the Chinese delegation thanked representatives of the tourism industry for the presentations, expressing confidence that Crimea with its natural conditions, a powerful basis for improved health and an abundance of cultural and historical sites will be of interest to your compatriots. ”
Tourism talks March 11. Photo from the site mtur.rk.gov.ru
The Chinese also reported on the trip.
“I was already in Crimea, but what I saw now is surprising: these are the significant changes that have taken place here. I hope that the development of business relations with Crimea at the level of government, private entrepreneurs and ordinary people By the way, I would like to invite distinguished colleagues to visit China, “said Zhao Kai, CEO of Beijing Export-Import Trading Company.
Zhao Kai added, “We will do our best to develop and establish business relationships with local companies. This will contribute to the development of friendly relations between our two countries.”
Diplomatic reaction in China and Ukraine
After the visit, he was commented on by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The timing is extremely indicative, and translates the trip of businessmen to the territory not controlled by Ukraine on the official plane.
The department’s spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said that business cooperation will continue.
“Chinese companies maintain contacts with Crimea and cooperate with it according to market principles. You cannot politicize this interaction in the commercial sphere,” said the Chinese diplomat.
According to Lijian, Chinese companies “have historically been in contact with Crimea.”
“I hope that the interested parties will properly resolve the relevant issues through dialogue and negotiations,” the Chinese diplomat concluded.
Thus, official China confirmed its intention to cooperate with the annexed peninsula, both in tourism and in the export of local goods.
The Ukrainian leadership commented on this visit only later, and surprisingly with caution. Vice Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin met with the Chinese ambassador and wrote after the meeting that “the zrada is canceled.”
According to Jenin, the ambassador was reminded that illegal visits to the peninsula are a crime and “extremely undesirable consequences” were hinted at for foreign companies whose representatives travel to Crimea.
At the same time, in general, the tone of the Ukrainian diplomat was extremely conciliatory. From his statement, it appears that China allegedly denied that the visit to Crimea had any connection to Motor Sichu.
Note that generally Ukraine’s reaction to trips by businessmen or politicians from other countries to Crimea via Russia is much harsher. Sanctions are introduced very quickly, strong warnings are issued, and those who have visited Crimea register in the Peacekeeper.
None of this has happened with China. That is, the government of Ukraine clearly shows that it does not want to further spoil relations with the People’s Republic of China.
Another question is whether this approach will suit the Chinese. This will likely depend on how Ukraine disagrees with them on Motor Sich, which NSDC secretary Danilov has already promised to nationalize. And the Crimean story is just one of the retaliatory measures China can take.
“Chinese acupuncture”
The Telegram channel Politics of the Country analyzes the significance of China’s emergence in the Crimea.
“Note that, until recently, China has been very cautious about the problems of Crimea and Donbass, regularly abstaining, for example, when voting at the UN on relevant resolutions.
However, now, as we can see, the situation has changed.
And the reason for these changes, obviously, is the conflict over Motor Sich, which erupted with renewed vigor last week. After Bankovaya, through the mouth of NSDC secretary Danilov, promised to nationalize (or “return to the property of the people”) of the company, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement on the violation. investor rights.
And now it has delivered its own blow, opening the way for Chinese business to Crimea, effectively breaking its international isolation.
At one point, Viktor Yushchenko did something stupid by promising to fight for democracy in Cuba, which at the time treated Ukrainian children for free. The current government (though not because of its own stupidity, but because of a council from the United States) decided to turn the enemy not into little Cuba, but into huge China, which is Ukraine’s main trading partner today.
And the statement on Crimea is only the first sign. It will be much worse when Beijing begins to impose retaliatory sanctions against our farmers who export corn to China or against metallurgists who send ore to China. Then we will lose many billions of dollars that no one will repay. “
Chinese experts also say that the Crimean story was a response to Ukraine’s imposition of sanctions against Chinese companies involved in buying shares of Motor Sich. At the same time, the People’s Republic of China still does not believe that there will be a full-blown economic gap between the countries.
“The incident with the sanctions attracted a lot of attention in China. Among the reasons for this step, Chinese experts mention the fear of the Ukrainian president of losing power, the influence of the United States and his interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine. Time, the strength of investment and the size of the Chinese market are important for Ukraine. Therefore, the political issue is unlikely to affect the bilateral economic interaction, “he told Strana. Zhao Huirong, author of the publication “Huanqiu Shibao”.
Political scientist Ruslan Bortnik He also believes that China is issuing the first warning to Ukraine.
“It cannot be ruled out that China, with a signal through Crimea, is giving an answer to Ukraine on the situation around Motor Sich:“ If it violates the rights of our investors who have invested billions in their companies, then China can accept de facto recognition of Crimea as Russian and begin to cooperate with it, “says Bortnik.
In his view, such tactics may be part of China’s strategy for Russia, which is rooted in a common anti-Western position.
“In 5 to 10 years, the question of China’s recognition of the Russian status of Crimea may arise, for example, in exchange for recognition of Chinese territory somewhere in Taiwan. Also, China was going to invest a lot of money in Crimea. Let me remind you. negotiations with Yanukovych, with whom the Chinese signed agreements worth several tens of billions of dollars, including those related to the construction of infrastructure for deep-sea ports in Crimea. Therefore, this may be a symmetrical response to China to the situation with Motor Sich, and a longer strategy for the gradual recognition of the de facto Russian state of Crimea “, – said the expert” Strana “.
The fact that the incident was commented on by the official spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry shows that the visit to Crimea is an element of China’s state policy.
“This whole situation in Crimea should once again draw the attention of the Ukrainian authorities to the need to build their own independent policy in relations with China, our key trading partner, and not to follow the policy of other states (the United States), lo that potentially causes us significant harm, ”concluded Ruslan Bortnik.
Political scientist Konstantin Bondarenko he called the response from the People’s Republic of China “Chinese acupuncture.”
“China has decided to give an asymmetric and very painful response to Ukraine for MotorSich. It has a wonderful understanding of Ukraine’s weaknesses and will act on them with the traditional Chinese acupuncture method. Until now, China has behaved in the most correct way possible in relation with Ukraine and did not recognize Russia’s sovereignty over the peninsula. Now, we should expect the situation to develop according to the principle “we do not recognize, but we cooperate.” And this in the coming year may lead to significant investment flows from China to the Crimean economy In addition, there is already a precedent, and the PRC does not particularly care about US and European sanctions, according to the principle “we have to cut it.”
Ukraine cannot apply sanctions against China. At the very least, it would look ridiculous, given the size of our economies, “Bondarenko told Strana.
