Putin's Visit to China is a Response to US Attempts to Improve Relations with China
Russian President Vladimir Putin's official visit to China is a response to Washington's attempts to mend relations with China after US President Donald Trump's visit, meaning Putin is going to Beijing to affirm the friendship between China and Russia, according to foreign policy analyst Branimir Đokić.
TL;DR
- Putin's visit to China aims to confirm the friendship between Russia and China, partly as a response to US attempts to mend ties with China after Trump's visit.
- The visit seeks to ascertain the current state of Sino-Russian relations and whether any agreements between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump could harm Russia.
- There's a historical fear among Russians of being sidelined in US-China relations, as seen in 1972.
- China benefits from the prolonged Ukraine war as it increases Russia's dependence on China for energy sales.
- US-China relations are not expected to significantly improve, likely resulting in a temporary truce.
- Russia and China cannot fully oppose Washington as a collective force, given the US's naval dominance.
- Both Russia and China have continental interests but also conflicting ones, particularly in Central Asia.
- Russia may benefit if China confronts the US, similar to how China is currently profiting from the West-Russia conflict over Ukraine.
- Discussions between Putin and Xi are expected to cover political cooperation, oil and gas prices, and the "Power of Siberia 2" gas pipeline.
- A key objective is to confirm China's continued support for Russia in the Ukraine war.
- A "Joint Declaration on the Formation of a Multipolar World and a New Type of International Relations" is expected to be signed.
- The concept of a multipolar world is seen as a desire rather than a tangible outcome of declarations.