Geopolitics, the debate

China - Russia facing the West: the new geopolitical cycle?

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on February 4, 2022. (Illustrative image) © ALEXEI DRUZHININ / AP

By: Marie-France Chatin Follow

1 min

According to Chinese diplomats, relations with Russia are rock solid and the friendship between Xi Jiping and Vladimir Putin boundless.

Western sanctions make these declarations a real test.

Russia needs an economic as well as a financial lifeline.

Moscow would like to be able to make Beijing a conduit through which to continue doing business with the rest of the world.

China, for its part, faces a delicate balance between helping Vladimir Putin stand up against their common rival, the United States, while retaining its own access to the global financial system.

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Although China abstained in the UN vote condemning Russia for its invasion of Iraq, its rhetorical support is more comprehensive.

In early March 2022, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Russia China's most important strategic partner.

The difficulties are no less real for China, which knows very well that it too can be affected by secondary sanctions, as it was with regard to Iran and North Korea by America.

China plays the balancing act, neutral but pro-Russia.

The war in Ukraine, a reason for distancing between Beijing and Moscow or the confirmation of the strong convergences between the two countries?

Guests:  

  • Marie Mendras,

    political scientist at CNRS and CERI, professor at Sciences Po

  • Alice Ekman,

    Asia Lead Analyst at EUISS, European Institute for Security Studies, “

     Bright Red – The Chinese Communist Ideal

     ” Flammarion 2021  

  • Pierre Grosser

    , specialist in Asian geopolitics.

    “ 

    The history of the world is made in Asia

     ”, Odile Jacob.  

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