Opinion | As Armenia and Azerbaijan clash, where will China stand?

Name: Deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan reignite over Nagorno-Karabakh
Uploaded: 2020-10-02T20:00:09.000Z
Duration: 2 min 31 s
Description: Deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan reignite over Nagorno-Karabakh

As part of its Belt and Road Initiative, China has courted both Armenia and Azerbaijan. With the two countries engaging in their worst military clash since 2016, Beijing will have to walk a diplomatic tightrope

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A still photo taken from a handout video made available by the Armenian defence ministry on September 27. Armed clashes erupted in the simmering territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Photo: EPA-EFE

Danil Bochkov

Published: 4:00am, 3 Oct 2020Updated: 5:13am, 3 Oct 2020

A new escalation of the long-standing border dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region has already become the worst military clash since the last flare-up of tensions in 2016.

Both sides declared martial law and initiated either full (Armenia) or partial (Azerbaijan) mobilisation of their armed forces, using rockets and artillery which resulted in hundreds of civilian and military losses that made this clash the deadliest since the 1990s.

The possible outcomes of the conflict are either the resumption of the negotiation process, which has been deadlocked in recent times, or further heating up of tensions with armed clashes.

Turkey has actively supported its long-time ally Azerbaijan, demanding Armenia to stop its occupation of Azeri territory. Russia has good relations with both countries and has called on them to de-escalate tensions. While Russia has closer military ties with Armenia, it has also been expanding its economic cooperation with Azerbaijan, which makes it a proponent of peaceful resolution.

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Deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan reignite over Nagorno-Karabakh

China has also called on both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue. The South Caucasus region, acting as a link between the Middle East, China, Russia and Europe, has huge strategic significance. China has recognised this fact through its Belt and Road Initiative.