Russia holding land that previously belonged to China could put them in a position of “peril” in the long run, according to a foreign affairs expert.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has strengthened ties with the estranged nation by visiting Moscow despite Western nations remaining steadfast in their commitment to not converse with the country as a result of their Ukrainian invasion.
No.10 has urged President Xi to use his position to call on Vladimir Putin to end his “atrocities” in Ukraine.
Speaking to GB News, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator for The Sunday Times Gideon Rachman: “There’s no doubt about it, Russia, not just on the military front, but it is completely dependent on China on the economic front as well.
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin hold a good relationship, as things stand
Reuters
“Russia has lost the Western energy markets which their whole economy was oriented to for the past 20 years, Russia is trying to build a gas pipeline towards China.
“Putin said they’re a little bit envious of China’s success. China’s economy is massively larger to that of Russia’s and if you really wanted to nervous sitting in Moscow, it is the case that parts of Russia used to be parts of China in the 19th century.
“If the balance between the two powers gets too out of whack, there could be some peril in Russia.”
While the two powers falling out could be detrimental to Russia, the expert says the picture is a fairly rosy one for Xi and Putin currently.
Gideon Rachman gives his take on the geopolitical situation in Russia
GB News
Rachman issued a stark warning over the relationship, saying China has a resource that Putin requires in abundance.
He told Mark Longhurst: “The really big issue that they wouldn’t admit to publicly is whether China will supply ammunition to Russia.
“As far as we know, Russia is running short of shells, it’s one of the main reasons they don’t attack Ukrainian infrastructure on a daily basis.
“They’re short on missiles, and China has got a lot of the kind of missiles Russia needs. However, if they are to actually give those to the Russians, it would be seen as a major intervention in the war.
“The Americans have constantly warned them against doing this so it would be a very big escalation if they were to do so.
China has opted to portray itself as a neutral force in the conflict after Beijing called for a ceasefire in the conflict last month.
Questioned over whether Xi will go down the route of supporting Russian efforts, Rachman said China may do it discreetly.
“There’s clearly, even in a closed society like China, there are debates going on in Beijing about this.
“There are some who say ‘yes we should supply the Russians with weapons’.
“If you look at Xi’s rhetoric, they and Russia see themselves as forces changing America’s power around the world.
“The question he’s got to face is: Does he want to ramp it up now? I suspect that they probably won’t do it openly, but they will supply them with some stuff.
“Probably semi-conductors but not the artillery shells right now. I think if Russia were on the point of losing or if it looked like there might be regime change in Moscow, then I think there might be a rethink in China.