China’s Balancing Act: UN Discourse on Ukraine Through a Securitization Lens

When Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it justified the action by claiming that Ukraine’s political direction and alleged NATO encroachment posed a direct threat to Russia’s national security. China’s security discourse and diplomatic positioning in response have been heavily shaped by ideational factors, with deep-seated ideas, norms, and identities influencing its response to Russia’s security discourses. China’s discourse in the UN General Assembly demonstrates how it engages in both securitization and desecuritization simultaneously.