Kremlin Calls for Closer Alliance with China as West's Containment efforts Escalate
The article discusses the growing coordination and support between Russia and China in response to Western containment efforts, highlighting upcoming talks between their leaders and reaffirming their unity on various policy issues.
In a bid to counter Western efforts to contain them, a senior Kremlin official has called for closer policy coordination between Moscow and Beijing. Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, hosted China's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for security talks on Tuesday. Patrushev emphasized the importance of deepening coordination and interaction between Russia and China on the international stage, particularly in light of the campaign unleashed by the collective West. He also highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold substantive talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during an upcoming trip to Beijing.
The discussions will take place at a summit of the Chinese Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Patrushev reaffirmed Russia's unwavering support for Beijing's policy on various issues, including Taiwan, the western Xinjiang region, and Hong Kong. He argued that the West has been using these issues to discredit China. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has been conducting large military drills in the region. Chinese authorities have also implemented strong measures to suppress any unrest in areas with significant ethnic and religious groups, such as Tibetans and the Uyghur community in Xinjiang.
These policies have drawn strong criticism from the West. The Kremlin has consistently expressed its support for Beijing as Russia and China continue to strengthen their ties amidst deteriorating relations with the West. Last month, China orchestrated an expansion of the BRICS partnership, inviting six more countries to join the bloc. This move aimed to demonstrate China's neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, even though it refused to condemn Russia's actions. China has vocally criticized Western sanctions against Moscow and accused NATO and the United States of provoking Russia's military actions.
Furthermore, China has put forward a peace plan for Ukraine, although it has been largely dismissed by Ukraine's allies who insist on a complete withdrawal of Russian forces. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Russia follows his talks with US President Joe Biden's national security adviser and sets the stage for discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Wang stressed the importance of keeping up with the evolving times, fulfilling international obligations, and showcasing a sense of duty as great powers amid increasingly confrontational and hegemonic actions.