[Epoch Times, March 31, 2022]After US President Biden twice warned Beijing to stop supporting Putin or face serious consequences, the top leaders of Zhongnanhai did not seem to care very much, although the external tone has decreased, But the support for Russia has not stopped, and planes and trains full of supplies are still being sent to Russia. As reported by “Hubei Daily” on March 26, on March 25, Xianning’s first China-Europe freight train “Yangtze River”, which was full of 41 vehicles, set off, and is expected to arrive at Volsino Station in Moscow 14 days later.
However, in recent days, the Beijing authorities seem to be reluctant to pretend to be “neutral” and have publicly stated their pro-Russian attitude. On the one hand, since the 29th, the official media People’s Daily has published a series of editorials “Seeing American Hegemony from Behind the Ukrainian Crisis” in a series of editorials, blaming the U.S. for the Ukrainian crisis and sending a signal of open support for Russia. .
On the other hand, the meeting with the Russian foreign minister made it clear that there is no upper limit to the cooperation between the two sides. In order to allow Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to enter China justifiably, the Beijing authorities specially arranged a so-called meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbors in Tunxi, Anhui, and the highlight was the meeting between the foreign ministers of China and Russia. On March 30, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Lavrov.
Sure enough, the core issue between the two sides is Ukraine. According to a report by Sputnik, the foreign ministers of the two countries had a detailed exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Minister briefed the Chinese Foreign Minister on the progress of Russia’s special military operation and the negotiation process with the Kyiv authorities. “A detailed exchange of views” means that Lavrov told Wang Yi the real situation of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the negotiation process, the problems and even the difficulties faced.
Wang Yi believes that “this is an important opportunity for strategic communication between the two sides” and that China-Russia relations “maintain the right direction, showing a tenacious development momentum. China speaks highly of this,” and “willing to work with Russia to implement a series of consensuses reached by the two heads of state and push the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level in the new era.”
Although the reports of the CCP’s official media are different from those of the Russian side, for example, “the Chinese side highly appreciates this”, and “to jointly implement the series of consensus reached by the two heads of state” has been changed to “with the two heads of state. The important consensus is to lead”, and “promoting the Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era” has changed into “promoting Sino-Russian relations in the new era to continue to advance to a higher level”. As the situation cools down, we will continue to hold peace talks with Ukraine and maintain communication with the international community”, but this is just a word game by the Beijing authorities to deceive the outside world, especially the West.Sino-Russian Foreign Ministers MeetingIt’s pretty self-explanatory.
At the press conference held on the same day, a Archyde.com reporter asked, “Before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the heads of state of China and Russia said that there is no upper limit to the cooperation between the two sides. What does it mean for the two countries to expand cooperation now? To what extent should the cooperation be expanded? What fields are covered?” At the time, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Sino-Russian cooperationThere is no upper limit to fighting for peace, no upper limit to maintaining security, and no upper limit to opposing hegemony. Sino-Russian relations are non-aligned, non-confrontational, and not targeting third parties. “
The three uncapped transmissions are that China and Russia proceed from their own interests, and anti-US cooperation is not limited to the political and economic fields, but also covers science and technology, communications and even the military. , not targeting third parties” is undoubtedly self-deception and self-contradictory. They have already publicly spoken of American hegemony and cooperated with Russia to oppose hegemony. Not once morest the United States and once morest whom?
It is no wonder that Lavrov said in an interview with Serbian media on the 28th before his visit to China: “Our relationship with China has reached the highest level in history.” In April last year, Lavrov just said “Russian-Chinese relations” It’s the best in history, but it’s not regarding building a military alliance.”
If you look back at the article “Russia and China: Strategic Partners Focusing on the Future” published on Xinhuanet on February 3 before Putin’s visit to China for the Winter Olympics, you can see that the top level of China and Russia has already set the tone for bilateral relations. The article stated that “Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has entered a new era and has reached an unprecedented level”, referring to the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation last year, which “sets the basic principles for the joint efforts of our two countries”. and guidelines, which are first and foremost equality, consideration of each other’s interests, freedom from political and ideological shackles and freedom from the past.” The words revealed that no matter what evil things the Soviet Union and Russia did to China in the past, such as occupying territory, shooting and raping people, both sides will turn the page and look forward, and let the past go.
The article also expounds bilateral cooperation in economics and trade to “jointly resist contemporary risks and challenges”, such as cooperation in the fields of mineral mining and processing, infrastructure construction and agriculture, cooperation in the financial field, energy, and future cooperation between the two countries. Extensive opportunities for developing partnerships in the information and communications industry, medicine, space exploration (including the application of national navigation systems and the implementation of the International Lunar Research Station project).
It can be said that although Beijing’s support for Russia following the partial defeat of the Russian army in the Ukrainian battlefield has often been ambiguous, it is clear that the highest levels of the two countries have reached an agreement before the Russian invasion, and this agreement will not be easily torn up by Beijing. Yes, Beijing has never given up its support for Putin from beginning to end. Today, it is clear that there is no upper limit to cooperation.
This is obviously a wink to the US Biden administration that issued the warning, which may be related to Biden’s assurance to Xi on the phone call with Xi not long ago. According to the Chinese Communist Party’s official media, Biden assured Xi Jinping: “The United States does not seek to fight a new Cold War with China, does not seek to change the Chinese system, does not seek to oppose China by strengthening alliances, does not support Taiwan independence, and has no intention of conflict with China.” In addition to denying that the White House “does not support Taiwan independence”, the White House has not denied it. The United States also announced an extension of the tariff exemption period for 352 Chinese goods.
It’s hard to say that it wasn’t Biden’s remarks and actions that gave Zhongnanhai an illusion, because it obviously reduced the meaning of the warning.And if the Biden administration is a big deal with Beijing, it will make a lot of noise once morest Russia.sanctionalso embarrassed. At present, in this big game, Moscow is betting on its future, Beijing is betting on its future, and Washington is betting on its future. And this game of chess is very likely to turn because of something we can’t predict, but it is certain that if it confronts the United States, Beijing is destined to be one of the losers.
Responsible editor: Pu Shan
