Vladimir PutinChina’s state visit to China this week was a show of strength. It was a chance for the Russian president to prove to the world that he has a powerful ally in his corner.
The Russian leader is widely regarded as a pariah after ordering the invasion of Ukraine. But for Chinese President Xi Jinping, he is an important partner in the search for a new world order that is not led by the US.
And Mr. Xi welcomed his guest. He rolled out the red carpet, the band played old Red Army songs and cheering children greeted both leaders as they strolled through Tiananmen Square. There was even a quick hug for the cameras.
Russian and Chinese state media paid much attention to the camaraderie between the two leaders. But in reality, this is no longer a partnership of equals.
Putin came to China with his cap in hand, eager for Beijing to continue trade with heavily sanctioned and isolated Russia. His statements were filled with honeyed tones and flattering phrases.
He said his family learned Mandarin – this was especially notable because he very rarely talks about his children in public.
He declared that he and Mr Xi were “as close as brothers” and then praised China’s economy, saying it was developing “by leaps and bounds, at a rapid pace”. This is likely to play well with officials in Beijing concerned about a sluggish economy.
But Mr Xi himself did not echo the tone of these lofty compliments. Instead, his comments were more perfunctory and even bland. He said Putin was a “good friend and a good neighbor.” For China, the welcoming ceremony and the show of unity are in its interest, but showering its guests with praise is not.
The costly war in Ukraine, which still shows no signs of ending, has changed their relations and exposed the weaknesses of the Russian military and its economy. Mr Xi will know he is now in charge.
The war isolated Russia. China’s ties with the West may be strained, but Beijing has not isolated itself from the world like Russia, nor does it want to.
Money talks
While the public statements may not have been enthusiastic, President Xi did hint at the importance China attaches to the relationship.
He invited Putin to his official residence, Zhongnanhai. Few leaders are granted this honor; among them was US President Barack Obama in 2014, when ties between the two were at their best.
President Xi is trying to strike a fine balance: he wants to maintain an alliance with Putin, while also knowing that close ties with a pariah will jeopardize his stable ties with the West, which he needs to help his ailing economy.
The fact is that this visit was only about money: Putin needs China’s support for his war in Ukraine.
The composition of the Russian leader’s entourage was a sign of what he hoped to get out of the trip: He brought with him the governor of Russia’s Central Bank, his finance minister and his economic adviser.
The joint statement released to mark the visit also included some striking ideas to increase trade – building a port on an island over which the two countries had once feuded for more than a hundred years, and speaking to North -Korea to see if Chinese ships could navigate. via a major river to reach the Sea of Japan.
The word ‘collaboration’ was mentioned 130 times.
All this will of course be closely monitored by the US. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China to stop fueling Russia’s war and trading in components that could be used in Russian drones and tanks.
So it will not have escaped their notice that during his visit to the city of Harbin on Friday, Putin visited a state-backed university known for its groundbreaking defense research.
The tour – and the ceremony and symbolism surrounding this visit – certainly seem to indicate that Xi is determined to prove that he will not be swayed by pressure from the West.
But behind the scenes of this show of unity, there may be limits to how far Xi is willing to go.
After all, China’s interests are not Russia’s interests. As a senior partner in this relationship, Mr Xi is likely to cooperate when it suits him – even when his “dear friend” and ally needs him.
BBC InDepth is the new home on the website and app for the best analyzes and expertise from our top journalists. Under a distinctive new brand, we bring you fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions, and in-depth reporting on the biggest issues to help you understand a complex world. And we’ll also be presenting thought-provoking content from BBC Sounds and iPlayer. We start small but think big, and we want to know what you think. You can send us your feedback by clicking the button below.
