On April 18, 2022, Senior Col. (Ret.) ZHOU Bo, a fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy and a China Forum Expert, attended a virtual seminar titled “Russia on Ukraine: What Does It Mean for Everyone” presented by FPCI Chapter UPH. Moderated by Jenny Sari Winata, president of FPCI UPH, the event attracted an online audience of around 100 scholars and students from Indonesia and China.

China has taken a reasonable, impartial and neutral position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling for negotiations and an immediate ceasefire, Zhou Bo said. As China understands Russia’s “concerns” about NATO expansion, it also stresses the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Zhou believes that China does not need an alliance with Russia, and that it is still early to conclude whether the world order will change as a result of this war, which has not yet ended.

Dr. Andrey SUSHENTSOV, program director of the Valdai Discussion Club, said that the inevitable conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which will cement their respective national identities, has turned into a war between Russia and the West.

Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia Chapter Universitas Pelita Harapan (FPCI Chapter UPH) is an internal organization of the International Relations major of UPH. BATIK Foreign Policy Update is a student-led public forum on foreign policy.