Is China going to war now?

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Surprisingly, Chinese ruler Xi Jinping (69) visits his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (70) in Moscow. He landed on Monday afternoon. The meeting starts at 2.30 pm (Swiss time), the visit is expected to last until Wednesday.

Is the visit a good or bad sign? Blick answers the most important questions.

The focus will be on the war in Ukraine and its consequences. According to the Kremlin, talks are about developing relations towards a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China.

China, hungry for raw materials, depends on oil and gas from the energy superpower. Russia, on the other hand, hopes for help from China under the economic pressure of Western sanctions – especially with the supply of microchips and other technological components and technical equipment.

China will certainly not play an active role. Arms deliveries and further support could be up for discussion. Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said: “The issue of military-technical cooperation will undoubtedly be discussed.”

The White House recently warned that China could supply arms to Russia. “This is pure speculation and defamation of China,” the Chinese embassy in Bern wrote when asked by Blick. However, last week there were reports that Chinese companies have supplied Russia with some 1,000 assault rifles, drone parts and protective equipment.

China is considered a close ally of Russia. Like the Kremlin, Beijing does not speak of a ‘war’ but of a ‘crisis’. Yet Beijing has largely complied with international sanctions against Moscow so as not to become the target of punitive action itself. A peace initiative recently presented by Beijing was met with disappointment in the West.

Because of the collapsing economy, Beijing has a strong interest in ending the war. In their peace plan, the Chinese demand adherence to the aims and principles of the UN Charter – which expressly includes “the territorial integrity of all states”.

However, China has not demanded a withdrawal from the Russians, who are violating precisely this point. Rather, the plan proposes an immediate ceasefire, meaning nothing more than freezing and entrenching the Russian illegal presence in Ukraine.

The guest from Beijing serves Putin well as he can show that he is not isolated internationally. Prior to the visit, Putin underlined the importance of bilateral Russia-China relations. They have never been closer than now, Putin wrote in a newspaper article.

The Kremlin chief thanked China for its balanced attitude to the events in Ukraine. Both rulers want to weaken the United States as a world power. They have met 40 times since they have both been in office.

So far, no Chinese government official is known to have visited Ukraine during the war. Asked by Blick for an answer to this question, the Chinese embassy in Bern evaded writing: “We maintain smooth communication with all relevant parties, including Ukraine, and wish to continue to cooperate with the international community and play a constructive role in the political solution in the Ukraine crisis.”

Source: Blick