While the world waits to see the impact of a Trump presidency on great power politics, Russia’s top security official, Sergei Shoigu, told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday that Moscow and Beijing face an “urgent task” to work together to counter “containment” by the US.
Shoigu’s meeting with Wang in Beijing was the first between high-level Russian and Chinese officials since Donald Trump won the US presidential election last week.
China has deepened its “partnership with no limit” with Russia – including military and defence ties – since Moscow was isolated and sanctioned by the West over its invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
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But US policy on Ukraine might change under Trump, and that has introduced new variables to the great power triangle.
Trump, who had often expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has criticised the scale of US military and financial support for Kyiv and called for a quick end to the war. He is also expected to bring in a number of China hawks such as US Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Michael Waltz into his administration.
Shoigu and Wang leading their delegations during the China-Russia strategic security consultation in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua alt=Shoigu and Wang leading their delegations during the China-Russia strategic security consultation in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua>
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and Wang, China’s top envoy, discussed major security issues of mutual interest, reached new consensus, increased mutual trust and agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
According to Russian news agencies, Shoigu praised “unprecedented high-level comprehensive strategic collaboration” between the two countries and emphasised to Wang the need for China and Russia to “counter the ‘dual containment’ policy directed against Russia and China by the United States and its satellites”.
“Although it is not a military-political alliance like those formed during the Cold War, the relations between our countries surpass this form of interstate relations,” Shoigu was quoted as saying.
Wang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin had met three times this year, saying the men’s strong leadership and their close ties had provided the bilateral relations “political advantages and ultimate guarantee”, the foreign ministry said.
“The more complex the international situation gets and the more external challenges there are, the more the two sides must stand firm in solidarity and cooperate in defence of our common interests,” Wang told Shoigu.
“We are willing to work with Russia to focus on changes in the international situation, keep close communication and coordination, strengthen multilateral cooperation, provide a strong guarantee for the maintenance of the momentum of high-level development of Chinese-Russian relations, and to jointly safeguard global strategic stability.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping with Russian President Vladimir Putin toast to Brics at a summit in Kazan, Russia on October 23. Photo: Reuters alt=Chinese President Xi Jinping with Russian President Vladimir Putin toast to Brics at a summit in Kazan, Russia on October 23. Photo: Reuters>
Though the meeting took place just a week after the US elections, it was planned well in advance, according to Yang Cheng, the executive dean of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies at Shanghai International Studies University.
The objective, he added, was for Beijing and Moscow to align their positions on crucial issues and explore opportunities for consensus and collaboration.
Regarding speculation that a second Trump administration might attempt a “divide and conquer” tactic pitting China and Russia against each other, Yang noted that during Trump’s first term, US efforts to bolster ties with Russia fell far short.
“Both China and Russia possess autonomous decision-making capabilities and are unlikely to acquiesce passively to US policies,” Yang said.
“The China-Russia relationship has its inherent momentum and will not undergo significant alterations regardless of who is the US president. Even if Trump introduces adjustments, China can navigate them alongside other significant players such as Europe, India and the Middle East.”
Shoigu is also expected to attend Airshow China in the southern city of Zhuhai this week and meet senior Chinese military leaders there.
Russia’s most advanced stealth fighter, the Su-57, will also perform at the show to celebrate the Chinese air force’s 75th anniversary.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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