China's 12-point proposal for peace in Ukraine should be given serious consideration as it encompasses all the necessary elements that could achieve a ceasefire leading to eventual peace. Obviously, it is still a tall order. At this juncture, the talk of war continues with vigour, especially among the US allies and Nato. Judging from their reactions in the past several days, they still view the plan with suspicion, and it will take some time before the Chinese ideas gain traction among policymakers worldwide.
The one-year war has already shifted and changed the international order and other fundamental connectivities and invisible linkages that have been the milestones of stability and prosperity that allow all countries to coexist peacefully. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a new world is emerging as the West and East continue to compete to take the lead. If the biggest war in Europe since World War II continues, the nascent multipolar international order will be further divided, forcing developing countries to shield themselves from the fallout of their competition. In the process, some of the developing countries will be forced to choose sides. At the moment, fortunately, there is a group of nations, big and small, that is taking a third way, trying to come up with a deliverable peace plan.
