China’s former US envoy Cui Tiankai slams Europe for ‘mismanaging’ own security situation, points to Asian wisdom

China has published a 12-point position paper that says peace talks are the only way to end the Ukraine war. The West has been sceptical of the proposals, saying close ties with Russia made China unsuitable as a peacemaker.

Cui, who was China’s ambassador to the United States from 2013 to 2021, said the regional approach to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific had worked for decades, despite a few hotspots here and there, unlike the approach taken by Europe.

“We used to look to Europe for their experience in regional integration, but nowadays, people in Europe and the Atlantic, can look to us,” he said.

“We should also learn something, a very important something, from your lack of success. I don’t want to use the word ‘failure’, but lack of success.”

The Asian way to peace was based on consultation, communication and economic cooperation, in addition to a “recognition of diversity and respect for diversity”, that allowed countries to follow their own policies, with none having the right to impose its will on others.

Ollongren disagreed with Cui, saying Europe’s security was not mismanaged but hampered by Russia’s disregard for how the continent’s security was supposed to be managed.

Ukraine’s Reznikov, who sat next to Cui on the panel, made it clear that Kyiv would not negotiate until the war against Russia was won.

“We don’t need a facilitator right now. Our country is still conducting war,” he said.

China’s special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, upon returning to Beijing after a 12-day tour of Ukraine, Russia and four other European countries to find common ground on a way to end the Russian invasion, said it was “rather difficult” to get all parties to the negotiation table.