At a recent meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to deepen their collaboration. Both leaders are personally invested in boosting relations between China and Russia. This summit, occurring on May 9, coincided with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, where both leaders issued strong statements condemning the United States for its foreign policies and military alliances.
This is Xi Jinping’s 11th visit to Russia since assuming power in 2013. This trip served as a reminder of how much the ties between the two countries have strengthened. Their nearly four-hour discussion focused on various geopolitical issues, including NATO expansion, which China has long viewed as a threat to Russia’s security. The two leaders greeted each other as long-time personal friends. What really came through was the importance of their joint work, particularly as the U.S. pressures keep escalating ever higher.
Specifically, in 2024 so far, China and Russia have held 14 joint military exercises, showing their obvious desire to pursue military cooperation. For the first time, the Xi-Putin joint declaration unequivocally referred to the US as a threat.
“The United States and its allies are trying to promote NATO’s eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific region… undermining regional peace, stability and prosperity.” – The Xi-Putin statement
As these tensions continue to flare, China now faces a trade war with the United States. This weekend, the two countries will engage in primary discussions. They hope to de-escalate the ongoing tariff war that has severely tested U.S.-China economic ties. No matter other controversies, Xi Xi, it’s still Taiwan, a territory China claims is its own. He has signaled repeatedly that determining how to resolve the “Taiwan problem” is a major part of his legacy.
Taiwan’s unique historical background started in 1949. That year, the Republic of China had just fled to the island after being defeated by the communists on the Chinese mainland in the civil war. His pal Xi Jinping has promised to retake Taiwan, with the use of military force if needed. This position makes an already-fraught China-US relationship even more difficult. The US views Taiwan as one of its most important, if not the most important, regional allies.
Beyond military and economic matters, Xi and Putin spoke on the conflict in Ukraine. Russia has come under growing pressure from the United States to negotiate a peace deal as it continues significant military involvement there. The two leaders strongly opposed the so-called Unilateral Coercive Measures enforced by some countries. Further, they jointly disputed that such militarization exceeds the bounds of international law and threatens global security.
“Unilateral coercive measures, including economic sanctions, that bypass the UN Security Council violate the UN Charter and other international laws and undermine international security interests.” – Statement
Furthermore, Putin announced plans to visit China in autumn for commemorations marking Japan’s defeat in World War II, further solidifying the partnership between these two nations.