The ‘No Limit’ Partnership Between China and Russia Gets Stronger – Bad News For The US

The ‘No Limit’ Partnership Between China and Russia Gets Stronger – Bad News For The US

In addition to visiting France, Italy, and Hungary on an eight-day international tour, Wang attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany. In a surprise visit to Ukraine, US President Biden made his trip a day earlier.

After US officials expressed concerns over China’s continued partnership with Russia just hours before the announcement, it seemed the time was right to make the announcement.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a CBS live interview from Munich that our concern is based on our information. In our relationship, we have clarified to them that providing lethal support will cause a severe problem.

Meanwhile, during a meeting on the sidelines of the conference, he warned Wang about the implications and consequences of China supporting Russia’s war effort.

China and Russia’s strategic partnership will be strengthened with Wang’s visit to Moscow, where they can exchange views on various hotspot issues of mutual interest.

The development of relations between major powers has shown a positive trend, no matter what changes the international situation brings. China and Russia have been and remain committed to preserving it.

According to President Putin, China-Russia relations have reached new frontiers, and both sides have agreed that President Xi would visit Moscow shortly.

Xi Jinping’s visit will be a defining moment in the coming months, and Russia will likely launch major offensives after his visit.

Affirming that China is ready to join forces with Russia to defend national interests and virtues, Wang assured Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Russian Security Council.

Beijing’s approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is consistent with its ties to Russia. Xi Jinping and Putin noted that no aspects of their friendship were forbidden in February 2022, indicating Beijing’s unwavering loyalty to Moscow.

In this regard, there is nothing new to report. Since Xi took office, China has been willing to strengthen ties with Russia further. The two countries view the world differently, but many ideas are similar.

As a matter of principle, they view the Western-led international order and its ideology as a threat to the current regimes in China and Russia.

Additionally, both countries accuse the US of unfairly using the dollar in global finance. The Chinese Foreign Minister was adamant that currencies should not be used as a tool of unilateral sanctions, intimidation, or coercion.

Does Xi and Putin’s battle against Western hegemony bind them together? Relationships based on ideologies remain entangled in a vice-like grip. Consequently, cooperation across various fields, including politics, economics, ideology, and military operations, is possible.

Despite the asymmetrical relationship, Beijing is on top economically, with China accounting for 18 per cent of Russian trade, whereas Russia accounts for only 2 per cent.

During the last 11 months, Sino-Russian trade totalled $172.41 billion, an increase of 32 per cent. Moscow and Beijing aim to reach $200 billion in trade annually by 2024, with crude as the top commodity, but with China turning towards more renewable energy sources, this number may fall.

Although Russia lacks nuclear weapons but can provide important aerospace technologies and cheap energy to China.

It was a record year for trade between the two countries last year, despite the threat of secondary sanctions. Recent data suggests that China supplies Russia with critical components such as microchips.

As a result, both nations will continue to support each other’s core interests. There has been increased trade between the two countries during the conflict in Ukraine. Diplomats from China and Russia keep in frequent contact. 

Unabated bilateral military exercises are being conducted. Although Chinese diplomats continue to speak out in favour of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, China has chosen not to support Russia at the UN over the past year.

Neither it nor Russia has provided weapons to each other. China has also failed to condemn the invasion, frequently echoed the Russian perspective, opposed sanctions against Russia, and aided its economic development.

What will be the future of asymmetric relations between Moscow and Beijing? Considering the two countries share a 4,200-kilometer border, China must answer whether it prefers a defeated, weak, and destabilised Russia as a nuclear neighbour.

China will view a weakening Russian regime with anxiety. Focusing on Europe and engaging in it can relieve Indo-Pacific pressure. It is no secret that China benefits from Russian friendship and access to secure borders.

Xi values his relationship with Russia, even if it weakened, according to Andrew Small’s No Limits: The Inside Story Of China’s War With The West.

The Russian economy, military, and political system depend more on China than ever. Beijing fears that Russia’s defeat and subsequent regime change is the worst-case scenario for the end of the conflict in Ukraine.

To prevent this from happening, the Chinese leadership will take significant measures. The question is whether China may consider supplying Russia with lethal support beyond its current rhetorical and economic engagement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that China might consider such a plan. Especially since Covid, and in light of their assertiveness and aggression, the Chinese need Russia’s friendship as they collide with the US over a broad range of issues.

As President Xi said in a recent statement, Western countries are encircling, suppressing and containing us everywhere. During the interview with Foreign Minister Qin, Qin asked: Why talk of protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but not Taiwan’s?

Despite continuing to suffer from deteriorating relations between the US and China, most recently because a Chinese spy balloon entered US airspace, Chinese leaders view President Putin as an essential partner in such an environment.

This current escalation of Chinese support may increase the unpredictableness of the Ukrainian crisis. As of February 28, he will be in Beijing for three days.

It is one of many ways the PRC supports Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and deepens its relationship with Russia.

Deputy State Department spokesman Ned Price said Lukashenko had ceded his sovereignty to Russia. The Ukraine war and the US-China rivalry will likely play a significant role in the future.

On March 7, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang stated that the Ukraine crisis facilitates a geopolitical agenda. He says there is no solution to the problem through conflict, sanctions, or pressure.

Peace talks should commence soon, with all parties’ legitimate security concerns respected. The West’s hopes for a global system founded on democracy, the rule of law, and multilateral cooperation seem to lack traction.

As the geopolitical competition intensifies, trends point to further intensification. However, economic interdependence today will likely prevent a complete collapse since it forms the protective shield.

At the same time, the ability to deal with global challenges, such as climate change, poverty, and global health threats, will be severely weakened.

There is no doubt that the Ukrainian crisis dominates the world’s attention. As well, Chinese support for Russia is likely to continue.

Furthermore, US policy toward China is likely to stay the same while President Biden maintains the policies of President Trump.

The similarity between authoritarian and democratic regimes is now seen as an issue that cannot ignore with the shift in public opinion in favour of authoritarianism. We must assess Russia and China’s geopolitical implications to avoid competition and confrontation.

edited and proofread by nikita sharma