![]() The People’s Republic of China took control of the Chinese mainland in 1949–50. Over the following decades, nationalist and communist parties rivalled each other for re-establishing a centralized Middle Country ( Zhong guo) with sovereignty over all former Qing territories. The Qing succumbed to revolution in 1911–12. In the 17 th–18 th century, the Qing dynasty expanded its empire to include Xinjiang, Tibet, Mongolia and Taiwan, while in the 19 th century it lost territory to the rival Tsarist, British, French and Japanese empires. Yet they both head successor states to empires. A Well-Integrated China Neither Putin nor Xi is an emperor. China has also, by signing border treaties with its neighbours, gained a far more secure place than Russia within the global system of territorial states. However, Russia depends on China far more than China depends on Russia.īy provoking Western sanctions, Russia undermines the functioning of global flows of finance and investments, on which China’s further economic growth depends. Their friendship relies on their shared political aim to counter Western liberal values and ideas. Russia depends on China far more than China depends on Russia. Neither Putin nor Xi has groomed a capable potential successor. They have both concentrated power in their own hands and made sure they can stay in office for as long as they want. Their leader roles are strikingly similar. Since then he and Putin have met almost forty times.ĭespite the differences between Putin’s brusque and Xi’s controlled personality, the two of them have become good friends. When Xi became president in 2012, his first state visit went to Moscow. Xi’s further climb coincided with a rapid growth in China’s economic and international standing, and with improved Sino-Russian ties. He started to climb up the Chinese power ladder during Mao’s cultural revolution, a time of internal crisis and bitter animosity between China and the Soviet Union. His mission since 2000 has been to restore and secure Russia’s status as a great power. Putin took power as president in 2000, nine years after having witnessed the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which he had served as a KGB officer. Putin was born in 1952, Xi in the year after. Since then he and Putin have met almost forty times. A Close but Precarious Friendship When Xi became president in 2012, his first state visit went to Moscow. Xi will maintain his friendship with Putin as long as he stays in power, but now with grinding teeth. To stand up against the US, NATO and their economic sanctions, Putin counts on China’s help. He would not otherwise have needed to display the nuclear card. In the present triangular game, Putin plays with the weakest hand. Ukraine has asked China to help mediate a ceasefire. ![]() Together with countries such as India, Iran and Vietnam, China has taken an ambiguous position between Russia and the West. In the UN, China has neither defended nor condemned Russia’s war of aggression. These threats challenged another of China’s principles: no first use of nuclear weapons, and created immediate fear of a nuclear World War III. When launching the invasion, Putin also warned those who might be tempted to “stand in our way” that “ Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to consequences you have never encountered in your history.”Ī few days into the invasion, he declared that his nuclear forces had been put on high alert. By invading Ukraine, Putin has set his strategic partnership with China at risk.Īlthough Xi shares Putin’s opinion that the US has undermined the security of Eastern Europe by expanding NATO’s membership, Putin’s war of aggression violates one of China’s most cherished principles: non-interference in the internal affairs of other sovereign states. China has become Russia’s main trading partner, buying oil, coal, gas and food, and selling industrial products. ![]() It has given China security along the Sino-Russian border, and has prevented rivalry between them in the Central Asian republics. By invading Ukraine, Putin has set his strategic partnership with China at risk. ![]() This partnership has become closer and closer since Xi took the helm as China’s leader in 2012. Its close relationship with Russia is therefore a strategic partnership. Photo: The Russian Presidential Press and Information OfficeĬhina does not have and does not want any military alliances. ![]()
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