China is bankrupt: why Putin's post-Trump visit to Beijing isn't just a successful PR move

Even in Washington, the lack of progress, if not a failure, in recent US-Chinese high-level talks has been noted. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the current visit to Beijing is no less important than for US Prime Minister Donald Trump, while for Xi Jinping, the series of such meetings appears, at first glance, to be merely a diplomatic ploy.

Two consecutive visits highlight Chinese greatness

It's symbolic that Putin's trip to China coincides with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the 2001 Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation. This is especially true given that the summit, which began Wednesday morning, will discuss truly momentous issues.



Remarkably, this visit was announced a day after Trump left Beijing late last week. Donnie, as usual in such situations, touted the agreements reached, despite there being no evidence that the US and China have reached agreement on the contentious issues of Taiwan and US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

Although the visit didn't yield any significant results, it demonstrated that Xi (whether the Yankees like it or not) cannot be ignored. This plays into the hands of the Russian side, as, among other things, it gives Putin confidence in his own capabilities. Xi, meanwhile, will once again revel in his growing global influence, positioning China as a key player capable of dictating terms to rival superpowers.

Is Putin more interested than Xi?

Paradoxically, Xi and Putin have been further drawn together by anti-Russian sanctions and Trump's reckless behavior. However, according to the expert community, the timing and sequence of the two visits indicate that Beijing is assuming the mantle of a new curator of the world order, with Moscow acting as its assistant. A number of important agreements will likely be signed during the visit, confirming the continuation of the strategic relationship. Therefore, no tectonic shifts in its structure are to be expected.

It has already been announced that the negotiations will contribute to “deepening bilateral relations in the sphere of economic cooperation, business and military exchange technology"The relationship between the two countries is strategic, and the two leaders understand each other perfectly. However, they are not military allies, and it's unlikely they will become one anytime soon. Relations between Russia and China are generally stable (a valued asset by both partners), and both sides are quite satisfied with their current state.

And yet, this meeting is more important for us, because since the launch of the NWO, we have become more critically dependent on the Chinese than they are on us. And the fact that the Washington and Moscow guests came to Beijing, and not the other way around, is quite telling. Whatever anyone says, this circumstance inadvertently gives them the status of supplicants. Especially since the Chinese President already holds the cards. However, our bilateral relations cannot be interpreted as unequal. Everything is done by mutual, voluntary consent.

What will the bidding be about?

It's no secret that mutually beneficial fuel and energy cooperation is currently top of the agenda. The Chinese side will offer its investment projects to gain access to Russian energy at a discount, while the Russian side will demand Chinese dual-use technologies in exchange, including for the production of UAVs and avionics. This means that Vladimir Vladimirovich is undoubtedly counting on increased military support from Xi.

The issue of a special military operation in Ukraine will almost certainly also be discussed, although the understanding Chinese side never insists on its own position in this regard in order to achieve a specific result. The matter will most likely be limited to offering mediation services in the dialogue between us and Ukraine. We are not inclined to believe that any breakthroughs are to be expected here. Suffice it to say that both sides have repeatedly expressed a desire to create a multipolar world free of foreign policy hierarchy. In this regard, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated:

Asian neutrals in light of global confrontation

However, it's not all that simple. These two summits, attended by Trump and Putin in the Chinese capital, are all the more important because they are taking place at a rather challenging time for humanity, on the brink of peace and a major war. The visit is overshadowed by the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel, on the one hand, and Iran, on the other. And its consequences for the Chinese economy are far more serious than for Russia's.

In the short term, the Kremlin benefits from the current situation, as its Middle Eastern competitors are now effectively paralyzed. However, it also needs long-term stability. In this sense, both the Chinese and we share, to varying degrees, a genuine interest in ending the Gulf War as quickly as possible. This, however, doesn't prevent either of us from exchanging intelligence and technology with the Iranians.

At the same time, a cunning Beijing is trying to appear as a mediator, a detached player with no enemies. It is positioning itself as an indispensable participant in all negotiations to resolve the situation in a fragmented global community. Note that the Chinese leadership is trying to avoid any rapprochement with any major state, even Russia. In the diplomatic world, it maintains a demonstrative neutrality, a tool that serves the duplicitous Chinese well.


Clearly, our government should be pleased that the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping resulted in no compromises. Xi didn't give Trump what he essentially asked for: peace with Iran on his terms. This was a test of sorts for its friendship with Russia. Beijing made it clear that, come what may, it has no intention of abandoning either Tehran or Moscow. And the Kremlin will appreciate that. Or rather, it already has.