As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares for his upcoming visit to Beijing, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory letters, highlighting the deepening ties between their nations. This visit comes shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s departure from China, following a high-stakes summit. According to reports, Xi emphasized the strengthened and continually growing cooperation between China and Russia, marking the 30th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year.
Putin’s arrival in China is scheduled for Tuesday evening, with a meeting with Xi planned for Wednesday morning. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the discussions would cover various aspects of bilateral relations, including the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. The timing of these visits has drawn significant attention, as hosting leaders from both the U.S. and Russia in such quick succession is an uncommon occurrence in the post-Cold War era.
The closer relationship between China and Russia has raised concerns in Western circles, especially following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Analysts and diplomats argue that China’s economic and diplomatic backing has been instrumental in sustaining the conflict. Since the onset of the war, China has significantly increased its trade with Russia, purchasing over a quarter of Russia’s exports, including vast amounts of crude oil. These transactions have provided Moscow with substantial revenue, supporting its war efforts.
China has imported more than $367 billion worth of Russian fossil fuels since the conflict began, bolstering its energy security amidst disruptions such as the blockage of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle Eastern crisis. While the issues of Ukraine and Sino-Russian relations did not prominently feature in Trump’s recent talks with Xi, the discussions focused on trade, Taiwan, and the Middle East. Trump stated that China shared his views on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, Xi expressed concerns over Taiwan, cautioning against potential conflicts if the situation is mishandled. Trump left undecided on approving a significant U.S. arms deal to Taiwan, a move opposed by Beijing.
Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, suggested that Taiwan might be an underlying theme in the Xi-Putin talks. Beijing could be seeking additional fossil fuel agreements with Moscow to secure energy supplies in case of a future Taiwan conflict. Expanding the Russian oil pipeline capacity to China could significantly enhance Beijing’s energy security in such a scenario. Russia, in turn, is eager for China to advance the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would increase the capacity between the two countries by 50 billion cubic meters.