> Beijing on Friday issued a proposal calling for a cease-fire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, but has also said it has a “no-limits friendship” with Russia and has refused to criticize Moscow’s invasion, or even to call it an invasion. It has accused the U.S. and NATO of provoking the conflict and condemned sanctions leveled against Russia and entities seen as aiding its military effort.

The reason that China cannot call this an invasion is simple. Because it is invasion it means Ukraine is able to invoke UN Charter article 51 rights to self-defence. If Russia is the aggressor, and the UN thinks so, 141-7 or 95% resolved, then everyone can legally aid Ukraine in their self-defence including sanctions and weapons. That's why China is taking on their irrelevant peace planning in an alternative reality where Russia is not the aggressor and basically carving itself into isolation with Russia.