Judging from the latest joint communique issued by Beijing and Moscow, China firmly views its relationship with Russia in the light of its protracted competition with the United States and the US-led world order. The People’s Republic, for the first time, openly reprimanded Washington in a joint statement with Russia.
However, the communique tellingly omits any inclusion of the ‘no limits’ partnership first referred to in January 2021. Instead, China stressed their relationship is based on a ‘confluence of interests’. The removal of the no limits partnership almost certainly displays some sense of agonizing on Beijing’s part about its bilateral ties with Moscow.
As it is, China’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine contradicts its defining diplomatic principle of upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
This position has significantly worsened relations with both the US and Europe – its main economic partners of the last three decades. But Beijing will not change its position, because its long-term struggle with the US takes priority.
Beyond the war
China’s strong inclination to sustain its ties with Russia go well beyond the Kremlin’s military adventure. Its return on investments is still framed by its response to the US’s pursuit of a China containment strategy. Beijing believes its relations with Moscow might well bring a necessary (if imperfect) solution in dealing with US policy in both economic and diplomatic terms.
