The Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his plans to visit China in May, which could potentially be his first foreign trip since securing his fifth term in office. This visit comes at a time when Russia is facing growing economic and diplomatic isolation due to its involvement in the war against Ukraine. Russia has become increasingly reliant on China for support, as evidenced by the surge in sales of technology and machinery used by Moscow to produce weapons for the conflict.
Despite the close economic ties between Russia and China, Beijing has maintained that it is not providing military assistance to Moscow. China has positioned itself as neutral in the Ukraine conflict, refusing to condemn Russia’s actions and expressing a strong friendship with the country. China has also proposed a peace plan for the conflict, but it was largely dismissed by Ukraine’s allies who demand that Russia must withdraw its forces from Ukraine for peace to be achieved.
The U.S. assessment reveals that China’s sales to Russia have been instrumental in Moscow’s ability to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft, and other weaponry for the conflict in Ukraine. This has raised concerns about China’s indirect support for Russia in the war. Despite this, China has not provided direct lethal military assistance to Russia and has attempted to maintain a neutral stance in the conflict.
As tensions escalate in the region, China’s friendship with Russia has drawn criticism from Western countries who have imposed sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. China has denounced these sanctions and accused NATO and the U.S. of provoking Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite criticism from the international community, China has stood by its relationship with Russia and continues to maintain economic ties with Moscow.
Putin’s upcoming visit to China in May signals the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries in the face of global criticism. However, the visit also raises concerns about the implications of closer ties between Russia and China, especially in the context of the Ukraine conflict. The international community will be closely monitoring the developments in the region as both countries navigate their complex relationship amidst the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
