Are China and Russia Really Allies? — The Basics You Need to Know

As of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China has become closer to Putin, at least outwardly. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has been balancing support for Putin without exactly aligning with Russia on its full-scale invasion, which Xi Jinping never endorsed.

Pragmatically speaking, Putin and Xi Jinping function as allies. Both see themselves as important and key players on the global stage. In China’s case, that’s most certainly true. In Russia’s case, they function more like a regional power, with some previous influence over the European Union, but without significant trade ties with the U.S. — up until more recently, the most important economy.

So, what is it about China and Russia’s alliance? Is there more to it than wanting to combat the West’s global hegemony?

Let’s discuss.

It is no secret that Xi Jinping has frequently praised Putin for his political leadership in Russia. In fact, Xi Jinping has often highlighted their frequent meetings and communication as an essential component for maintaining the China-Russia partnership.

As I hinted at in my introduction, the two leaders believe it is their duty to throw the U.S. from its global hegemony — a position the U.S. is slow to give up.

For outside observers, the relationship between the two countries primarily comes from this economic and geopolitical position.

However, they also back each other on other issues, such as their views on the freedom of the press, gay rights, and freedom of expression.

Here I will look at three areas where their interests overalp. These include:

• Economic Connections
• Energy Trade,
• and Military Drills

I’ll briefly discuss each in turn.

Economic Connections

In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in trade cooperation between China and Russia.

These include the China-Russia Investment Fund and the Belt and Road Initiative, which many view as an attempt to create dominance in the Eurasian continent, as well as connect the Asian continent with Europe and even Africa.

China has invested more in Africa than any other country. And Russia’s presence there is not insignificant either.

We have also seen cooperation between the two in the form of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS grouping (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to promote their shared economic interests.

Energy Trade

Prior to 2022, Russia was the world’s largest energy producer. Its exports of oil and natural gas largely supplied the European Union — something the EU suffered from, despite the former German Chancellor, Angela Merkel’s, beliefs that greater economic connection with Russia would enhance security and peace in Eurasia.

Fortunately for Russia, China is a huge energy consumer. When the EU turned down Russia’s oil and gas, India and China became crucial alternative trade routes.

Of course, the infrastructure is not as established as it was with the EU through its various pipelines. Nonetheless, Russia sees China as an important alternative to the EU, especially as they continue to undermine Western hegemony in global affairs.

Military Drills

Interestingly, we have also seen China and Russia cooperate on military exercises and defense cooperation.

These were primarily done in the South China Sea and the Baltic Sea, but other areas have seen joint naval exercises.

Military cooperation between the two countries is often viewed as a counterbalance to the military power and influence of the United States and its allies who have military bases in South Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and pretty much anywhere else around the areas that China and Russia are creating influence over.

Many rightly point out that Ukraine is to Russia what Taiwan is to China. So, it makes sense that the two countries are aligned when it comes to their military drills and use of joint exercises to bolster their capabilities in Eurasia.

Despite these areas of cooperation, we can safely say that Putin’s alliance with Xi Jinping is of the same caliber as his alliance with Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarussian dictator.

These leaders have shared interests, namely to overthrow Western global hegemony, but that’s where it most likely ends. They would not risk personal gain for the other. Their cooperation does not extend much further.

Their border disputes and economic competition in Central Asia reveal that when push comes to shove, they’re not willing to put the collective good of their countries above personal interests.

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