China and Russia display some unusual closeness in the face of Russia’s alienation by the West, as China urges Russia to see its current challenge as an opportunity.
On Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023, a high-ranking Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, met with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. While the purpose of the meeting has not been disclosed, the timing of the visit suggests there is more than a routine diplomatic exchange.
The Wang Yi-Putin meeting comes at a time when global power dynamics are changing, and there are heightened tensions between the US and China. Indisputably too, the West and Russia are not currently seeing eye to eye owing to Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine.
Physical Closeness of the Two Leaders
During the meeting, the two leaders sat close together across the table in contrast to how Putin has sat with visiting Western leaders in the past.
This physical proximity sends a clear message to the public about the strength and depth of the relationship between China and Russia. It also seems to suggest that Putin believes he has an ally in China in matters beyond official policy.
The West may see the closeness of these two leaders as an attempt to forge an alliance against the US, UK, and the rest of the Western world, but China and Russia have a long history of cooperation. In other words, this Putin-Yi meeting may be nothing of much importance but a convenient public display of friendship.
China’s View on the Russia/Ukraine War
China has not so far condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and its continuing aggression since last year, nor has it become Russia’s cheerleader. Instead, China’s official stance on the Russia/Ukraine war has been one of neutrality. Basically, China has maintained that the conflict should be resolved through peaceful means.
In recent years, China has been hesitant to interfere with the affairs of other countries, and even this time the government has refrained from overtly aligning itself even with Russia. Nevertheless, many analysts believe that China is supportive of Russia and is likely to be helping Putin behind the scenes.
China may or may not acknowledge that it is sympathetic toward Russia, but the reality is that Putin and Russia in general can do with an economic life-line from China.
Since the West and its economic institutions imposed economic restrictions and against Russia last year, its economy has been hit hard.
Still, Putin has not shown any indication he is about to cease attacks on Ukraine. As such, he is aware his people are bound to feel the economic pinch even more painfully.
Do Russia and China Find a Common Enemy in the US?
Both China and Russia have had a strained relationship with the US in recent years, China’s bone of contention being the trade wars the US has continued to wage against its companies since the era of President Donald Trump.
Now with the close meeting of Vladmir Putin and Wang Yi, many observers cannot help but read some form of solidarity not very palatable to either the US or the West.
To the rest of the world, one thing is certain: that Russia and China cannot be happy about the way the US has been shifting its foreign policy toward them. After all, such behavior is bound to cause economic uncertainty not only to the affected government, but also its citizens.
It is important to note that China is much dependent on exports to the US and other countries, and any restrictions on trade, or tariffs imposed by the US, could have a sizeable negative impact on China’s economy.
China is very much aware of the disadvantaged position the US has put it, and has been taking steps to diversify its export markets. For China, the idea is to try and reduce its dependency on the US.
Is Europe pro or against Russia?
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the West rallied together to try and weaken Russia’s economy. The reasoning was, and still is, that Russia cannot run a long war if its economy is on a nosedive. In other words, with the economic sanctions by the West and supported by the UN and most of NATO, Russia cannot finance the Ukraine war for long.
Among the products the West has targed for sanctions are oil and gas, whose exportation forms the backbone of Russia’s economy. The Russian government has tried to diversify the economy, but progress has been slow. As such, the sanctions continue to hurt the Russian masses.
The Significance of the Putin/Yi Meeting
The meeting between the high-ranking Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is a significant event that underscores the shifting power dynamics in the world.
China and Russia are two of the most powerful countries in the world, and their cooperation could have far-reaching consequences with regard to worldwide politics and the global economy.
The meeting of the two leaders sends a clear message that China and Russia are committed to strengthening their relationship and working together to achieve their goals. While it is unclear what the long-term implications of this meeting are, it is clear that China and Russia are willing to collaborate for their own benefit. Such collaboration could also be meant to mitigate the inevitable economic suffering that their people have experienced, particularly following alienation by the US and UN member countries.