Russia, China have their differences but Putin and Xi are not talking about them

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China from 16–17 May to hold another summit with President Xi Jinping. This was his second visit to Beijing in six months. Putin and Xi have met over 40 times since 2010. The question every expert on International Affairs (IR) wants to raise is: what is the new outcome of the latest confabulations?

The answer lies in a painstaking study of every statement made and every document issued by the two governments against the background of recent major interactions between the two leaders. The latest summit should be examined in the context of the historic February 2022 summit where the two sides announced a "no limits" partnership.

Vladimir Putin's Beijing visit: Immediate backdrop

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The latest summit took place when the Ukraine conflict continued unabated. The news from the war front was good for Russia as its troops launched a fresh offensive in the Kharkiv region, securing additional territories. The contrast was stark, between a confident Putin walking on the red carpet in Beijing and a worried President Volodymyr Zelensky canceling his foreign visits due to the recent setbacks. An anxious Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, rushed to Kyiv to assure that more US aid was coming to Ukraine, as the Chinese President prepared to host a glittering banquet for his Russian guests.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba walk past St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery frescos in Kyiv, on May 15, 2024 | AFP

The backdrop was also marked by Israel’s ‘no holds barred’ attack on Rafah in Gaza, despite near universal condemnation and opposition. The Western alliance led by the US found itself in a particularly vulnerable spot just when the Eastern Alliance composed of Russia and China demonstrated their unity and strength while condemning the US on account of its penchant for alliance formation and Cold War mentality!

The Putin visit was also preceded by a further dip in US-China relations, as a series of visits by senior American officials to Beijing ended up in Washington imposing hefty increases in tariffs on the import of multiple Chinese products. Besides, Xi Jinping’s recent swing through Western and Central Europe showed his mettle in talking tough to the EU on the one hand and expanding the contours of cooperation with Serbia and Hungary on the other.

Putin visit, optics and outcomes

Television images conveying the majesty of protocol and military pomp associated with a state visit were designed to impress and convey that the Russia-China relationship is in its best phase.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping hold an informal meeting at Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing on May 16, 2024 | AFP via Sputnik

After all, the visit was part of celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states. Public events revealed a positive personal chemistry between the two leaders. The presence of large teams of high-level officials from both sides at the talks was noted. The rest was left to be projected by Putin and Xi Jinping through their scripted remarks at the press conference and by the joint statement on ‘Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination’ for the ‘New Era’ in bilateral relations.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, China's President Xi Jinping and both sides' officials hold a meeting in Beijing on May 16, 2024 | AFP

The two governments highlighted the importance of “five principles” that govern the China-Russia relationship which is touted as a prime example of a new form of international relations as well as of good-neighbourly relations. A closer look at these principles or special characteristics of the relations is advisable.

First, mutual respect, equality and support for each other’s core interests and major concerns is a top driver. Does it not smell like an alliance? Second, satisfaction was voiced on the $240 billion bilateral trade, indicating a 2.7 times increase within a decade. This came with the resolve to expand cooperation in ports, transportation and logistics, and stable global industrial and supply chains. China has become a vital trading partner for Russia which stands hobbled by the impact of Western sanctions. Third, the significance of cultural relations and people-to-people ties was stressed, with a decision announced to celebrate 2024 and 2025 as the ‘China-Russia Years of Culture’ through a long series of cultural events to be held in both countries.

Fourth, the value of strategic coordination was emphasized for safeguarding the UN-centered international system, including the new multilateral platforms. It was conveyed that, with Russia and China chairing BRICS and SCO respectively (the latter begins soon), “the two sides will support each other’s chairmanship.” Further, they would construct a high-quality partnership to build the unity and strength of the Global South. Fifth, the two sides pronounced themselves in favour of political settlements of the world’s hotspots.

Urgent resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through a two-state formula was stressed. On the Ukraine war, they said that a political settlement was “the right way forward.” Russia endorsed the Chinese position on Ukraine, thereby giving a fillip to the latter’s dual role as a staunch supporter of Russia and a mediator of questionable credentials. Putin stated that many provisions of China’s 12-point peace plan were consistent with Russia’s approach and could be taken as a basis for peaceful settlement, but the West and Kyiv were not ready.

Reactions, perceptions

Without conveying anything significantly new or tangible, Russia and China utilised Putin’s visit to inform the world that their partnership was strong and blooming. They have their differences, but they are not talking about them. That is a subject to be deciphered by Western and Asian experts on Russia-China relations.

A critical challenge in Beijing was how to address the adverse impact of US sanctions on the Russian economy and the recent US tariff measures against China. Putin seems to have pressed China to continue supplying equipment and technology such as machine tools, silicon chips, etc. to help its war-torn economy.

A Singapore-based scholar, Hoo Tiang Boon, stated that both sides wished to show “that despite what is happening globally, despite the pressures that both sides are facing from the US, both sides are not about to turn their backs on each other anytime soon.”

The country that received considerable criticism and negative attention during the parleys in Beijing was the US. This rattled Washington; the deputy spokesperson of the State Department observed that China could not “have its cake and eat it too.” Elaborating, he observed, “You cannot want to have deepened relations with Europe … while simultaneously continuing to fuel the biggest threat to European security in a long time.”

On Ukraine, the White House stated that China's position was not impartial and urged the Chinese government to work for Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine.

Putin's Beijing visit: View from New Delhi

The Beijing summit has been watched with keen interest in the Indian capital, despite the latter’s all-consuming preoccupation with the ongoing general elections. How much closer China and Russia have moved to each other and how to identify the downside of this relationship are issues of much debate on the think tank circuit in New Delhi. However, one point is clear: increased coordination between Moscow and Beijing on all issues relating to BRICS and SCO and their coordinated approach towards the Global South imply that India needs to plan its responses very carefully.

Also watch |Putin in China: Xi, Putin reaffirm 'priority partners' status, slam US

On a broader plane, India will need to do everything it can to strengthen its time-tested relationship with Russia through an early summit. Will it also consider its options about seeking a reset in its ties with China? But first Beijing must decide how to break the four-year-long impasse on the border issues. Will it? Watch this space.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)