China ‘walking a delicate path in its dealings with Russia’ or is it?

China is “walking along a very delicate path in its dealings with Russia over the Ukraine” wrote one Western commentator on yesterday’s high-profile meeting between President Vladimir Putin and senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi.

The statement appears to be a little naïve, and hypocritical and totally ignores the hypocrisy of the current geopolitical situation surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

But put all of the grey areas aside for one moment and consider, for those not sitting on the US warmongering right, that it is somewhat understandable Beijing would reach out to Moscow given the US has threatened to go to war with China in the next three years, according to a leaked memo from a US four-star general.

China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang earlier this week warned that the conflict in Ukraine could spiral out of control if certain countries kept pouring fuel on the fire.

Qin was referring to the US openly giving military assistance to the Ukrainian army but also warned China not to provide Russia with any military assistance. Double standards?

China is next on the US hit list. It has trillions to burn on a defence programme, it needs an enemy to justify that money, and it is running out of enemies. After the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it’s either Iran or China next. Yet the rabid hysteria continues against China.

When Wang Yi met Sergei Lavrov the Russian foreign minister said the two were showing solidarity and defending each other’s interests despite “high turbulence on the world stage,” reported the BBC.

Wang said yesterday he was in Moscow to discuss the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, which “never targets any third party” and is not subject to a third party’s disturbance. Wang said…

“China is ready to work with Russia to maintain the good momentum of the new type of relations between major countries.

“Beijing is also ready to work with Moscow on overall planning for high-level exchanges and to resume dialogues and cooperative mechanisms that were interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic to push for greater growth of the relations.

Putin noted that Russia-China relations were advancing toward their set goals and that the two sides were productive in collaboration across various areas and in coordination with multilateral organizations.

Putin emphasised that the reinforced unity and coordination between the two nations in international affairs was essential for promoting the democratization of international relations, as well as the balance and stability of the international landscape.

Lavrov expressed his country’s eagerness to resume exchanges with Beijing in various areas that were affected by the pandemic, strengthen coordination on the international stage, and exchange staunch support on issues concerning each other’s core interests.

Lavrov added that Russia was ready to work with China to make the evolving international order more open, reasonable, and just, which he regarded as the historical duty of both nations, reported China Daily.

Wang co-chaired a meeting under the China-Russia Strategic Security Consultation mechanism on Tuesday. The two sides discussed the current international strategic situation and agreed to promote democracy in international relations and a multipolar world.

The two sides also agreed that efforts should be made to resolutely champion peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The statement emphasized that both nations rejected introducing the Cold War mentality, bloc-based confrontation, and ideological confrontation.

Observers noted that the lasting coordination between China and Russia, as demonstrated by the meetings, would help to shore up unity, justice, and stability in the world amid geopolitical conflicts driven by hegemony and unilateralism.

During their meetings, China and Russia also exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict. Wang stated that Beijing endorsed Russia’s reaffirming its willingness to settle the issue through dialogue and negotiation.

Wang added that China would, as always, uphold its objective and just position and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis. Wang underscored that efforts for peace should not wane while the situation’s complexity grows and that all parties were expected to overcome difficulties, further create conditions for dialogue and negotiations, and look for viable paths toward a political settlement.

This is seen as walking a delicate path. Discuss.