Despite their public displays of unity, the partnership between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin is built on a shaky foundation.
Taught To Distrust Russia
Leaders in Moscow and Beijing may appear aligned in their desire to undermine Western-led international order, but beneath the surface lie deep-rooted historical tensions and mistrust, particularly from the Chinese side, according to Ziare.
Xi Jinping, who often speaks of his "no-limits" partnership with Putin, grew up learning to distrust Russia. According to declassified U.S. documents, Xi’s mentor, Chinese Defense Chief Geng Biao, instilled in him a fierce anti-Russian sentiment.
During the early 1980s, Geng told American officials that China had always been wary of Soviet intentions. After Stalin’s death, Moscow pressured China to cede influence and territory, attempting to keep the country poor and agrarian.
May Be Hesitant
These early lessons of suspicion toward Russia linger in the background as Xi navigates his relationship with Putin. While China has supported Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine—providing military technology in exchange for energy—China officially recognizes Ukraine’s sovereignty, a principle that Putin’s invasion violates.
The alliance also faces challenges of power dynamics. As Russia becomes increasingly reliant on Chinese economic support, some analysts argue it risks becoming a satellite state to Beijing, further complicating the relationship.
Michael Sheridan, an expert on China, suggests that despite outward cooperation, Xi may be hesitant to fully invest in Putin’s ambitions. Deep-rooted suspicions and the contradictions of Russia’s actions may limit how far China is willing to go in its support of Russia.
