HONG KONG — With both countries already declaring “no restrictions,” Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday announced plans to deepen a partnership that has increasingly been marked by both countries’ clashes with the West. swore.
two dictatorial leaders The U.S. rivals met in Beijing in a show of solidarity as President Vladimir Putin launches a new offensive in his war against Ukraine.
President Putin’s two-day state visit to China will be his first overseas trip since he began his fifth term in power with a shake-up of military leadership. This comes as Russia takes control of the war, which enters its third year, and the United States ramps up pressure on China to stop it.
In February 2022, days before Putin invaded Ukraine, Putin and President Xi Jinping declared an “unrestricted” partnership, and the two longtime leaders are also personal friends. On Thursday, the two countries signed a joint statement deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Although this is different from a formal alliance, the possibility that China and Russia one day form an alliance serves as a type of “strategic ambiguity” that could constrain the United States and other countries, a senior official in International Peace said. said instructor Natasha Kurt. Security guard at King’s College London.
“They can keep us guessing about whether they’re going to escalate or not, whether they’re going to strengthen the direction of partnerships and alliances or not, and that in itself is a kind of deterrent,” she told NBC News. told.
Relations between China and Russia, which celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations during Putin’s visit, have been strongly tested by the Ukraine war and Putin’s growing international isolation amid opposition from Western countries.
Although China has sought to present itself as neutral in the conflict, it has provided diplomatic support to Russia as well as advanced technology for both civilian and military use. Russia has also become an increasingly important economic partner, becoming one of the top markets for oil and gas sanctioned by Western countries.
China has also proposed a vague 12-point peace plan that would allow Russia to maintain its territorial gains in Ukraine, which Western countries have rejected.
On Thursday, President Putin said he was “appreciative” of China’s efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, and Xi said China “hopes for an early return to peace and stability in Europe and will take steps towards this.” We will continue to play a constructive role.”
Although Mr. Xi remains willing to show support for his “dear friend” President Putin, he must also consider what cost this may have on relations with the United States and Europe.
The United States last month approved a nascent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine, but also imposed a series of sanctions on Chinese companies accused of cooperating with Russia in the war and threatened to impose sanctions on Chinese banks as well. ing.
During a visit to Beijing last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “Russia will have a hard time continuing its attack on Ukraine without Chinese support,” adding, “If China doesn’t address this issue, so will we.” ” he said to Chinese officials.
Mr. Xi is also reluctant to alienate European leaders as he seeks to maintain or expand overseas markets as the domestic economy slows. During Xi’s first visit to the continent in five years last week, he was approached by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about using their influence over Putin to end the war in Ukraine. I was pressured to do so.
Mr. Xi rejected their criticism of relations with Russia and said China was not participating in the war. However, pressure may be a factor. China’s exports to Russia fell in March for the first time since 2022, after total trade between China and Russia hit a record $240 billion last year.
Both Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin have distanced themselves from the term “unrestricted” when talking about their relationship.
“Mr. Xi basically doesn’t talk much about this issue in those terms anymore. He talks about good neighborly relations, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation,” Kurt said. “And Russia is talking about a flexible strategic partnership.”
Victor Gao, deputy director of the Beijing-based Center on China and Globalization, said China does not have to choose between Russia and the West.
“I think China should make continuous efforts to improve relations between China and Western countries. In fact, this is not inconsistent with improving relations between China and Russia,” said the chairman of Dongzhou University. Gao, who is also a professor, said.
Putin arrived in China’s capital early Thursday and was greeted with full military honors outside the Great Hall of the People, adjacent to Tiananmen Square, where he shook hands with Xi before meeting.
In addition to Beijing, Putin is scheduled to visit Harbin, a city in the northeast near the two countries’ 4,600-mile border, where the China-Russia trade fair will be held this week.
In an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua on Wednesday, Putin cited the “unprecedented level of strategic partnership between our two countries” as the reason for making China his first stop in his fifth term.
Among those traveling with Putin is economist Andrei Belousov, who was appointed as Russia’s defense minister in a surprise shake-up this week. His predecessor, Sergei Shoigu, is also participating in this trip.
A new Russian offensive in northern Ukraine is showing early results, worrying Kiev and its allies that Putin’s forces could make decisive advances in the coming weeks.
Mr Xi, 70, and President Putin, 71, have met more than 40 times in person or virtually. Putin last visited Beijing in October, while Xi visited Moscow just days after securing an unprecedented third term as China’s president in March 2023.
