Top NATO Commander: U.S. Troops May Be Sent To Eastern Europe

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43. China seems conflicted about the issue, as a lot of people are:

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UNSCR 1244 provides a significant legal foundation, upon which the fate of Kosovo may be decided, and a plan for resolving the dispute that all parties involved can accept should be formed through dialogue and negotiation under the framework of such Security Council resolutions.

Naturally, Serbia has been appreciative of China's position and perspective. And while Kosovo has rejected Taiwan's gestures of acknowledgment, it has made significant efforts to gain similar support from China, paying close heed to China's reiterated statements to consistently work toward seeking a political solution to the Balkan standoff that both sides can accept. Kosovo believes that one of the reasons why China favors Serbia is the presence of independence-seeking movements within China, most notably in Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet, and that this in turn creates concerns that Kosovo's unilateral bid for independence may set a precedent that will lead to a series of undesirable consequences.

The policy on independence and autonomy that China ultimately elected to adopt with respect to the issue of Kosovo was subdued, cautious, and relatively gray. And in Crimea, China should be able to fall back on that same policy. In the United Nations, as a responsible permanent member state of the Security Council, China has insisted on upholding international law and the spirit of the U.N. Charter in maintaining every country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In light of China's core interests and the existence of independence movements within Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet, China cannot openly approve changes in sovereignty over Crimea.

At the same time, in view of the strategic and cooperative partnership it has with Russia, China should not openly oppose or criticize Russia's actions. Finally, considering the geopolitical significance of Ukraine, as well as its strategic partnership and shared economic interests with China, China should encourage Ukraine to resolve the question of Crimea and other disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

http://watchingamerica.com/News/236432/the-double-standard-of-the-west-toward-kosovo-and-crimea/