There has been a disagreement in Russian political and expert circles regarding China.
Of course, the Kremlin still considers Beijing a strategic partner and highly values the level of cooperation between the two countries. Yuri Ushakov, the Russian president's aide for international affairs, in his recent statement highly praised the results of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China in May, emphasizing that this played a stabilizing role in the international arena.
Nevertheless, there are those who have different views about China-Russia relations, one of whom is Konstantin Zatulin, a member of Russia's ruling party and a deputy of the State Duma.
According to Zatulin, China does not provide sufficient support to Russia. Zatulin cited China's passivity with the example of European Union-Ukraine relations: "The European Union gives great support to Ukraine in the war. China, considered a strategic partner of Russia, does not give Moscow enough support."
In Zatulin's opinion, China only pursues its own interests, tries to profit from the partnership, and therefore took the opportunity to reduce the price of oil and gas it buys from Russia.
Deputy Konstantin Zatulin is right. Beijing does not give the Kremlin the level of support it desires. However, Beijing is not obligated to support Moscow in the war. When Vladimir Putin decided on the aggressive war against Ukraine, he did not consult his friend Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In such a situation, Xi Jinping had to refrain from unequivocally supporting Vladimir Putin’s adventure.
But as Zatulin also admits, China has supplied Moscow with necessary equipment for the production of military technology. Zatulin also emphasized that China even sells modern drones to Russia. However, Zatulin claimed that China also sells drones to Ukraine, Russia’s enemy. Although there is no evidence that China has sold drones to Ukraine.
Beijing pursues its interests in the Russia-Ukraine and US-Iran wars. Beijing is not interested in the defeat of Russia and Iran. Because the defeat of both could weaken China’s global and regional power. Therefore, although Beijing does not provide Moscow and Tehran with support exactly as they desire, it has done everything for Russia and Iran to remain standing.
Elkhan Shahinoglu,
political analyst