China’s Balancing Act Between US and Russia Reflects Shifting Global Power Dynamics

China’s Balancing Act Between US and Russia Reflects Shifting Global Power Dynamics
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Just days after President Donald Trump departed Beijing following his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital, underscoring Beijing’s increasingly delicate effort to balance ties with two rival powers whose relationships with China are moving in sharply different directions.

The back-to-back visits offered a revealing contrast.