In a phone call between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, they criticized the “US interference in internal affairs,” as the Kremlin later said. Sinologist Simona Grano from the University of Zurich knows what Beijing is trying to achieve with good relations with Moscow.
SRF News: What does China mean by “interference in internal affairs”?
Simona Grano: The positions of China and Russia are very similar: both see themselves oppressed by the USA and the West – Putin because of the war in Ukraine and Xi because of technological competition with the USA.
Russia is largely isolated from the West because of its attack on Ukraine and is now increasingly turning to China – why is Beijing doing this?
China benefits economically from the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russia no longer buys its products in the West but in China, including cars.
Beijing is participating because it is ideologically on Moscow’s side – and because it benefits economically.
China also receives oil and gas supplies from Russia at reduced prices. Beijing is taking part because it is ideologically on Moscow’s side, but also because it benefits enormously economically.
Is there also a risk for China given this policy?
For Beijing, there is a risk that the closer ties it has with Moscow, the more strained its relations with the West and the USA will be.
Xi and Putin are striving for a “fairer world order”. What does Beijing mean by that?
They are trying to build a parallel structure to weaken the influence of the US and the West internationally. At the same time, they are looking for new economic partners in the global south in order to compensate for the loss of Western trading partners.
What interests do the two UN veto powers share in the Ukraine and Gaza wars?
Relations between China and Russia are based above all on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s core interests. It is important for Beijing that its authoritarian system, its sovereignty and its territorial claims – be it Hong Kong, Xinjiang or Taiwan – are accepted and supported. Both countries also share a long, common border. That is why Beijing is not a neutral observer in the Ukraine war, but rather represents a pro-Russian position.
Beijing has supported Palestinian aspirations for autonomy for decades.
In the Gaza conflict, Beijing’s pro-Palestinian position goes back to decades of support for Palestinian autonomy. At the same time, Beijing is underscoring a sharp difference of opinion with the USA, which is known to strongly support Israel’s retaliatory measures against Hamas.
So Beijing does not criticize Moscow so that Moscow accepts China’s territorial claims. Is there more to it?
Yes. China needs ideological and economic allies, especially when relations with the USA are in crisis. And Russia functions quite well in this capacity.
According to their own statements, Beijing and Moscow want to work together strategically more closely. What could that mean?
Relations will probably continue as before – although how harmonious relations with Washington should be from Beijing’s point of view certainly plays a role. Therefore, there will hardly be any concrete steps towards further rapprochement between Beijing and Moscow – for example in terms of greater support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. But China will continue to try to sell as many products as possible to Russia.
The interview was conducted by Ali Amir.