Uncertainty Marks the Sixth Russia-China Alliance After Five Previous Treaty Breaches

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

As the entire western world united with Ukraine against the ongoing Russian invasion, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia raised concerns about whether China and Russia are allying against the entire West. Historically, China and Russia have never been genuine allies, from Tsarist Russia to the Soviet Union and today’s Russia.

Xi Positions China Against the West in his Russia Visit

On March 20, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for dinner.

Before that, each leader had published an article touting “China-Russian friendship.” The CCP’s mouthpiece newspaper, People’s Daily, said that Putin claimed Russia-China relations had reached a historical peak and that he called Xi “Comrade Xi Jinping,” which is a title used between Communist Party members in China and in the former Soviet Union.

Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s position on the war between Russia and Ukraine, claiming he wanted a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis instead of the Cold War mentality and unilateral sanctions. Xi declared that China is willing to play a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the Ukrainian conflict. Putin responded to Xi’s “political solution” by saying that Russia supports China’s constructive role in the Ukraine topic.

On March 18, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, in his speech in Russia, Xi Jinping did not mention anything about Russia invading neighboring countries. Instead, he emphasized the historical significance of the Russia-China partnership.

This is a sensitive time for Xi to visit Russia and make such a statement. It is believed that the CCP has ignored international condemnation and supported Putin. The Chinese regime is seeking an alliance to counter the West.

China-Russia Relations Viewed as an Alliance of  Convenience

On March 21, Xinhua, the CCP’s state media, published a “Sino-Russia joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era.” It is widely believed that the essence of the meeting between Xi and Putin is that the two dictatorships need each other and have more mutual interests than sincerity. The political situation forced such a brief handshake between the leaders.

Chinese-American political commentator Shi Shan suggests that Xi Jinping’s decision to visit Russia attempts to change former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s “Hide our strength and bide our time” policy on the international stage. Instead, Xi has chosen to challenge the United States directly and to become more confrontational globally.

Shi said: “The CCP may not really want Russia to be strong, but rather it wants the war to last so it can weaken Russia, resulting in Russia relying heavily on the CCP for economic and geopolitical support. The CCP also does not want to see Russia defeated in Ukraine, which could make Ukraine more pro-West. The fact that Xi Jinping rushed to Russia just a week after the CCP’s ‘two sessions’ reflects this concern.”

The power struggle between China and Russia has reversed due to the Russia-Ukraine War. China has emerged as the “boss” or the more dominant power between the two, while Russia relies more on China’s support. Whether Russia can accept being a “junior partner” to the CCP remains to be seen.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also cast doubt on the new Russia-China alliance and suggested that Russia has become the “junior partner” in this relationship.

Historically, China-Russia Alliances Ended Badly for China

During Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia, the article “300 years of Sino-Russian relations: 5 alliances and 5 betrayals” circulated on Chinese social media, but the Chinese censors quickly blocked the posts.

Xiang Yang, the author of the book “China Duel,” briefly summarized five alliances between China and Russia throughout history and their respective outcomes.