News Snapshot:
Both the United States and Europe are stepping up pressure on Beijing to support their blockade of Russia. Implicit in these messages is that China could also become a sanctions target or be ostracised if it did not support the Western alliance. Beijing’s intention is to refrain from triggering retaliatory actions but not to step back from its special partnership with Russia. Its leadership argues that maintaining neutrality gives it more credibility as a possible mediator . This would put China in the same group as India and South Africa, which also abstained from the UN resolution condemning Russia on...
