Publication

This paper argues the removal of the Ukrainian government and Russia’s subsequent intervention in Crimea in early 2014 poses a political dilemma for China’s leaders. On one hand, Beijing is not happy to see another authoritarian regime—Ukraine’s previous government under Viktor Yanukovych—pushed out by pro-democracy protesters. On the other, Beijing does not approve of Russia's unilateral invasion and annexing of Crimea, which violates the principle of state sovereignty, which the author says China regards very highly. The author also discusses what we can learn about Beijing’s foreign policy from its response to the Ukrainian crisis.