Introduction
Just two weeks before the invasion of Ukraine, a joint statement was issued by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It aimed to outline a strategic partnership as “having no limits,” a statement that received significant attention following the aftermath of the invasion, with analysts questioning whether it has been a tacit green light for the special military operation of Putin.
The press coverage of China for this partnership reported that there are close personal ties between Xi Jinping and Putin, and this was the eighth meeting that was held regarding this strategic partnership on the eve of the invasion. Due to this partnership, their bilateral relations have more substantial and enduring roots, as both countries have common interests in energy, trade, and military technology.
Moreover, it also aimed to counter the US, because both the states perceive the US as a common adversary not only to their external security but also to the internal stability of their respective regimes. Therefore, they harbor a common interest in curbing American power on the global stage. Additionally, the West and Europe have been isolating Russia in recent years, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine. Meanwhile, China has provided immense support to Russia amidst the Ukraine conflict.
The Chinese defense minister, Dong Jun, extended full support to Russia in a video call with Sergei Shoigu, his Russian counterpart. He said, “China understands the situation of Russia every time and that they truly support justice. We have favored you in the Ukraine conflict despite the pressure from the US and Europe on us.” He further added, “Although the defense cooperation has suffered a blow between European Union and China, due to this, we would not abandon our policy. We should not and cannot halt long-term relation and cooperation with Moscow.”
The Response of China to the Russia-Ukraine War
Informational Dimension
China has actively supported Russia in terms of spreading disinformation. Chinese official messages have persistently supported the Russian narrative, placing the blame on the US and NATO for the initial spark of the conflict. Even Russian disinformation – the presence of US bio-weapon labs operating in Ukraine for instance – was further amplified by Chinese media. Moreover, Chinese officials passed statements such as: “They (US and NATO) started the war, not us nor Russia.” China is not only providing support to Russia by words but also by repeating the messages that Russia is sharing.
One of the members of the Politburo Standing Committee, Lee Zhanshu, justified the invasion by claiming that the actions taken by Russia in the Ukraine conflict were an essential response to the perceived threat of NATO expansion. China has even supported Kremlin narratives that are totally unlinked to Chinese interests.
It has claimed that neo-Nazi influences have grown in Ukraine, along with supporting the Russian conspiracy theory that President Zelensky of Ukraine has been hidden at the USA embassy in Poland. It aimed to undermine Zalensky’s government and paint Ukraine as a puppet of Western powers. Chinese narratives and the information on its media outlets are more pro-Russian, spreading anti-American sentiments. China has strictly instructed its media to neither give any statement nor publish any story that’s against China-Russia relations, or Russia in general.
Additionally, it encourages its media to spread more and more anti-Western sentiments in general and anti-American sentiments in particular. A survey conducted in China revealed that the respondents largely favored official framings. They supported Russia and also believed the disinformation spread by the media. As China is providing immense support to Russia, this has compelled the US State Department to publicly comment on the Chinese propagation of Russian disinformation.
Diplomatic Dimension
Diplomatically, China is providing robust support to Russia in the ongoing conflict. High levels of communication between the Chinese and Russian leaders have remained constant. Chinese officials have also defended Russian actions on different international forums by criticizing NATO and opposing Western sanctions on Moscow. A virtual summit was held in April 2022 with the European Union where China defended Russia. This has strained its relations with European Union member states.
Moreover, in a BRICS summit held in late June, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, cited Ukraine in his condemnations of “hegemonism,” “bloc confrontation,” and “unilateral sanctions.” All three are critiques of the US and Western approaches to security globally, and the European and Asian regional settings. At international institutions and multilateral settings, China has again sided with Russia, like in the United Nations, by abstaining from votes condemning Russia’s actions. China, along with 23 other states has also voted against the decision of the UNGA to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council.
Furthermore, a resolution was passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors, criticizing the Russian invasion and advocating for Ukraine’s retrieval of its nuclear facilities. By voting alongside Russia, China opposed the resolution. China also supported Russia here by voting in its favour. Chinese and Russian jurists were the only ones who opposed the order of the International Court of Justice to halt all the military actions of Russia in Ukraine.
As the Western governments decided not to include Russia in the G20 summit in Indonesia, Xi and Wang Yi spoke out against such “politicization.” This simultaneously resulted in invitations being extended to both Putin and Zelensky. However, China has not taken visible actions to facilitate negotiations between the two states.
Economic Dimension
In the economic realm, Beijing has supported Moscow through various means, primarily by rerouting oil and gas supplies from Europe to Russia, increasing imports of Russian energy exports, and enhancing financial interactions using the Yuan to evade Western sanctions. Moreover, China has directly supported Russian warfare by selling dual-use equipment and technology to Moscow.
These steps by China aim to serve its interest in maintaining its economic relations with Russia, which have become increasingly important in the face of Western sanctions in the wake of the Ukraine war. By reinforcing economic ties with Russia, China aims to bolster its own energy security, gain access to Russian resources, and boost its strategic partnership with Moscow.
Due to its strategic interests and geopolitical considerations, China decided not to impose sanctions on Russia like the West and Europe. As both Beijing and Moscow view each other as strategic partners, this has significantly deepened their relationship in recent years. By refraining from imposing sanctions, China avoids upsetting its economic ties with Russia. Moreover, China’s desire to continue its economic ties with Russia is consistent with its broader foreign policy objectives, which also include undermining the dominance of Western nations in international affairs and increasing its influence in Eurasia.
Military/Strategic Dimension
Through massive imports of manufactured goods and technologies essential for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, China is supporting Russia in the military and strategic domain. Ball bearings for manufacturing tanks, integrated circuits for electronics, trucks for logistics and manufacturing, drones, and high-tech parts with military usage are only a few examples of the equipment that is imported. China’s major contributions enable Russia to effectively protect seized Ukrainian territory, even if it may not directly offer lethal aid.
China hasn’t given Russia direct military help in the form of weapons, but it has indirectly supported Russia’s military endeavors by importing large quantities of manufactured products and technology that are vital to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. Russia’s military activities and defense capabilities in the battle are greatly dependent upon this indirect assistance. However, the lack of public evidence leaves uncertainty about Chinese intentions. This underscores the complex dynamics in Beijing-Moscow military security cooperation, where joint activities persist but direct involvement in providing military aid in the conflict remains uncertain.
Conclusion
Therefore, Beijing will support Moscow based on its own interests, suggesting a preference for avoiding substantial sacrifices simply for the sake of fostering a cooperative relationship. In the informational domain, it has amplified Russian narratives. In the diplomatic dimension, China has not directly mediated the conflict but has expressed a desire for a peaceful solution. China has not taken visible maneuvers to broker negotiations between the two nations. Moreover, in the economic realm, China has largely pursued self-interests.
Furthermore, in the military domain too, despite joint military exercises and strategic partnerships, China hasn’t provided direct military aid to Russia. The reason for that is that Chinese interests, especially economic interests, are linked with the Western world as well. Hence, it cannot fully deteriorate its relations with the West or Europe. Due to this, China is acting wisely and is not taking actions that would ultimately create trouble for itself. Hence, China has to be vigilant enough in its dealings with Russia and Western countries as it advances its economic objectives, ensuring that its partnerships remain consistent with its broader strategic goals.
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