issuing time: 09/16/2022 – 00:26
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An article in Le Monde on Thursday wrote that Putin today expects Xi Jinping to support Xi not so much in deeds as in words. Tmur Umarov, an expert on Sino-Russian and Central Asia relations at the Carnegie Endowment in Moscow, said: “Russia is trying to get China to speak out against the West (…). Putin’s expectations for the summit in Samarkand are more outspoken than China against American global hegemony.
Thursday in Le Monde highlighted the first meeting between the Russian and Chinese heads of state Xi Jinping and Putin since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The article written by Lemaître Lemaître and Greenspan in Le Monde noted that Putin sought Xi Jinping’s support for the anti-West.
A related article claimed that Xi and Putin had spoken but had not met since Russia launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24. However, a few days before the start of Russia’s so-called special military operation, the two signed an important strategic agreement in Beijing on February 4, specifying that the friendship between the two countries is “unlimited”. It was unclear whether Putin had spoken to Xi at the time about his intentions to invade Ukraine. Temur Umarov, an expert on Sino-Russian and Central Asia relations at the Carnegie Endowment in Moscow, said: “When Russia launched the war against Ukraine, it did not consider Beijing’s interests, nor Beijing’s reaction, nor the interests and reactions of other countries were not taken into consideration, so Moscow’s actions were not based on the support of any country. “
Today, Putin’s expectation of Xi Jinping is not so much to expect Xi Jinping to support actions, but rather to expect Xi Jinping to support in words. Tmur Umarov said: “Russia is trying to get China to speak out against the West[…]. Putin’s expectation for the Samarkand summit is that China will be more outspoken against US global hegemony.
The related article goes on to state that since February 24, China has unanimously agreed with Moscow’s interpretation of the conflict, which is that China agrees that the root cause of the conflict is NATO’s expansion into Central Europe. However, while Beijing condemns Western sanctions, Beijing has not violated Western sanctions. The Chinese Global Times stated in an editorial on September 14 that “China has never been involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict” and that China “has always upheld respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries”.
The same article in Le Monde wrote that Beijing’s support for Moscow was reflected in the fact that Xi has not had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since February. Separately, Li Zhanshu, China’s No. 3, said unequivocally as he prepared for the Xi-Putin meeting in Moscow earlier this week: “We fully understand the need for all measures Russia is taking to safeguard the its fundamental interests. through coordinated action “.
Li Zhanshu also stated that on all international issues, China supports Russia’s national interests (…), and the same goes for Ukraine. The United States and NATO are rushing to Russia’s door, threatening Russia’s national security. Russia did what she had to do to protect itself. Faced with the United States, she is only exercising her right to self-defense, she has no choice.
Li Zhanshu’s remarks faithfully followed the Kremlin’s line and were widely reported on Russian television.
The Le Monde article also pointed out that while China increased its purchases of Russian oil and coal in the first half of this year, by almost 100% between February and June, China does not appear to be providing military assistance to Moscow. . China is very cautious and strictly adheres to international sanctions against Russia. Tmur Umarov predicted that Chinese companies are unlikely to supply Russia with military technology in the short term, but in the future, China may establish special mechanisms to provide Russia with military technology, just as China did with Russia. Iran and North Korea are trying to evade sanctions by exporting technology. “
Moscow recently had to turn to Iran and North Korea for its military equipment needs. Evan Feigenbaum, member of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: “Beijing’s goal is to maintain a strategic understanding with Moscow to counter the growing economic pressure from the United States and the West on China. But it wants to do so without having to support. Moscow on a tactical level, since it wants to continue to access world markets, avoid Western sanctions and build relations with the Central Asian countries that fear Russia ”.
The article published in Le Monde highlighted that on international issues, especially the Ukrainian one, the countries of Central Asia are very concerned and those of Central Asia are concerned about the rise of Russian imperialism.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, interpreted in the former Soviet republics as an attempt by Russia to restore hegemony, was judged negatively. Notably, Russia’s recent rhetoric towards these Central Asian countries has also become more threatening. Several Russian leaders questioned Kazakhstan, sometimes saying it was “man-made” or “newly established”. Therefore, Xi Jinping said Wednesday in the capital of Kazakhstan: “No matter how the international situation develops, we will firmly support Kazakhstan in defending its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the future.
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