The year 2023 represents a turning point. If economic realities guide global prospects, it will be a positive turnaround. If geopolitics will continue to penalize economic prospects, a negative inflection point is more likely.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is forcing people to rethink the role of today’s international system in maintaining world peace. The system is currently out of balance, with one superpower and several other significant powers jostling for prominence.

China has provided some new thinking and inspiration for solving the international security puzzle. The answer involves major countries breaking through the constraints of outdated Western security theories and charting a course that is comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable.

As the war in Ukraine marks its one year anniversary, and with the recent announcement of China’s call for a ceasefire and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, it’s imperative to analyze history and to consider further pathways to peace. Ultimately, China is best positioned to lead the way to the end of the war, and them doing so would be for the betterment of the world.

The recent sanctions from the U.S. against Chinese satellite manufacturer Spacety China in response to the company’s alleged connection with Russia’s Wagner group of mercenaries have significant geopolitical implications. These include increased tensions as a result of U.S. efforts to counter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and consequently, an aggravated relationship between Russia and China.

Beijing’s influence on the Ukraine crisis is limited. Neither Washington nor NATO should nurse unrealistic expectations. Relations between China and Russia should not be viewed through the lens of Ukraine. It’s in everyone’s interest to stop the crisis from escalating into a global confrontation.

The United States is the biggest winner in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It’s using it to beef up and modernize its own military and economy. Everyone else has lost. No end is in sight, but one thing is certain: The longer the conflict lasts, the more the U.S. benefits.

The U.S./NATO-led proxy war in Ukraine is aimed against Russia, and is not for the good of Ukraine. It is an unwarranted war that could penalize global economic prospects for years to come, and any escalation will only make a terrifying status quo far worse.

Russia’s irrational struggle has accelerated a process in which nearby countries are induced to turn against it. Making war is a costly way of fighting. Our country needs to learn how to win without fighting through the use of soft methods.

It is the mission of the think tank to stay on high alert against potential risks and explore possible solutions to challenges. The international system is currently undergoing the most dramatic changes since the end of the Cold War. The peaceful and open international environment, which has been taken for granted over the last four decades, is now overshadowed by formidable challenges. In this context, it is the think tank’s responsibility to explore and identify external security risks that might pose threats to China in the months and years ahead.