Russia and China laid out their deepest ties in meetings on Wednesday, while others were watching for signs that Beijing may be offering the Kremlin more power for its war in Ukraine.
The arrival of Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s most sensible foreign policy official, in Moscow comes as the standoff in Ukraine continues to disrupt the world’s diplomatic order.
Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War, and ties between China and the United States are also straining. This week, Moscow suspended its participation in the newest nuclear arms treaty with Washington and the United States expressed fear that China may simply supply arms and ammunition to Russia.
Speaking at the start of talks with Wang, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the ties between the two countries, adding that the Kremlin expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Russia.
The Russian leader, whose own regime is in danger because of the war, noted the escalation of tensions abroad, adding that “in this context, cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation globally is primarily to stabilize the external situation. “
While Wang said that “China-Russia relations are not opposed to any third country and cannot be subject to tension on the part of any third country,” the specter of war and how it galvanized the West and deepened its rift with Russia loomed over it. assembly with Putin.
For example, Wang noted that both Moscow and Beijing are “the multipolarity and democratization of foreign relations,” a reference to their common purpose of countering perceived U. S. dominance in global affairs.
Earlier on Wednesday, M. Wang held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. the interests of others,” Mr. Lavrov said.
Wang responded in kind, pointing to Beijing’s emphasis on deepening ties with Russia, a dating that “knows no bounds. “
China refused to criticize the invasion of Ukraine and echoed Moscow’s claim that the U. S. is not yet in the U. S. The US and NATO were guilty of provoking the Kremlin. The Beijing government also criticized sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia, in turn, has firmly subsidized China amid tensions with the United States over Taiwan.
The two nations held an army to show off their defense ties. China, Russia and South Africa will hold a naval campaign in the Indian Ocean this week.
The rapprochement has worried the West. The U. S. Secretary of State has worried the U. S. Secretary of State. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, any Chinese involvement in the Kremlin’s war effort would be a “serious problem. “
Asked Wednesday whether NATO had indications that China might supply weapons or other items to Russia’s war, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also told The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland:
“We’ve noticed signs that they might plan this and, of course, NATO allies, the United States, have warned that they oppose that because it’s something that deserves not to happen. China deserves not Russia’s illegal war. “
Stoltenberg said China’s possible assistance would amount to offering “(directly) a flagrant violation of foreign law and, of course, (as) a member of the UN Security Council, China in no way deserves the violation of the UN charter or foreign law. “. law. “
Academics subsidized through the Chinese government have ignored Washington’s warnings about Beijing’s appointments with Moscow, reflecting what they have described as a polarized and distorted American vision.
The Global Times quoted Zhang Hong, a research associate at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying that the United States and its allies have viewed the Russian-Ukrainian clash as “colored lenses. “. “
“It turns out that it will be noticed that whoever talks to Russia is on Moscow’s side in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” Zhang quoted the English-language Chinese newspaper as saying.
Wang’s talks with Lavrov followed his meeting Tuesday with Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, who called for closer cooperation with Beijing to counter what he described as Western efforts for dominance thwarting a China-Russia alliance.
While China has recently highlighted its close ties with Moscow, it will also need to be careful to avoid an escalation of tensions with the West as it seeks to spice up its economy after the effect of the covid-19 pandemic.
“Isolating the West is not something (Beijing) should risk,” Yu Jie, a senior China researcher at the Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House, a British think tank, said in comments published Wednesday. President Xi and his colleagues have begun to realize that cooperation with Russia comes with really extensive limitations to undermine China’s political priorities and long-term economic interests. “
Wang took a contrary position to Moscow against the backdrop of fierce battles in Ukraine, with neither side appearing to be gaining ground. The previous Ukraine office said at least seven civilians were killed Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
In a speech at a concert on Wednesday, Putin praised Russia’s “heroic” troops and said Moscow’s forces were fighting for the country’s “historical borders” for its “interests, people, culture, language and territory. “
“When we are together, we have no equal,” he shouted to an enthusiastic crowd at a Moscow stadium.
The unfolding dating between China and Russia is an example of how war can spread to new and dangerous territory.
Another announcement by Putin on Tuesday that Russia would suspend participation in the New START treaty, raising new considerations about the fate of the arms pact, which is already on a ventilator.
Last fall, Moscow allowed U. S. inspections of its nuclear sites to resume but refused to hold a series of consultations under the pact.
On Wednesday, Russia’s cramped parliament space temporarily approved Putin’s resolution to suspend the treaty, and officials and lawmakers presented it as an 11-hour warning to Washington.
Reflecting Beijing’s cautious stance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the treaty is the key to peace and stability and China hopes “the two sides will resolve their differences. “”.
Information for this article provided through Monika Scislowska of The Associated Press.