China's Role in Ukraine: Balancing Neutrality and Allyship

China's position on the Russian-Ukrainian war is full of ambivalence and omissions, with President Xi Jinping preferring to maintain amicable ties with Putin and repel diplomatic attacks on the Kremlin. While Beijing has said Ukraine's "territorial integrity" should be maintained, it has not urged Russia to withdraw troops. Observers suggest that China could be attempting to freeze the war on Russia's terms to let it replenish its arsenals, train more servicemen, and switch its economy to wartime mode. China may resort to economic statecraft to convince Kyiv, including contributing to Ukraine's post-war restoration and better access to China's market for Ukrainian food producers.