The Mutual Embrace of True Friendship
"Both China and Russia need to carry out more joint actions to more effectively safeguard our security and interests.""At present, certain international forces are arbitrarily interfering in the internal affairs of China and Russia under the guise of democracy and human rights, and brutally trampling on international law and the norms of international relations."Chinese President Xi Jinping"A new model of co-operation has been formed between our countries, based, among other things, on such principles as non-interference in internal affairs and respect for each other's interests."Russian President Vladimir Putin
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| Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in virtual conference |
It used to be called a 'love-in'. The two countries have had their moments of mutual distrust and accusations. They will surface again at some future date, possibly when too many Chinese begin to occupy Russia's under-populated Arctic region as the Chinese population continues to explode. But for the time being they have more in common than what keeps them apart. Both expanding or attempting to expand, their influence abroad. Both building up their advanced technological military weapons.
And both notably, threatening their neighbours over territorial disputes. Out of which disturbing advances has come criticism from their neighbours and from Western groups like the EU and NATO. Both China and Russia, infamously, permanent members of the United Nations' core Security Council where decision-making is rarely unanimous; both preferring to naysay the other permanent members, France, Britain, and the United States.
Both now under heavy sanctions, led by the United States, supported by the European Union and NATO along with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. China for its abysmal human rights record on Tibet and Xinjiang and its bullying in the South China Sea, and Russia for its strongarm techniques edging into military invasion in Georgia and Ukraine.
For the time being, however, they have seen fit to form a common front against their 'enemies' and embrace as best friends. Leading Xi Jinping to endorse Vladimir Putin's demand that binding security guarantees be forthcoming from NATO, that Ukraine will not be welcomed into the NATO alliance and that Russia be permitted to do what Russia will do; invade Ukraine without inconvenient interference.
Mr. Xi after all, has much in common, insisting that Taiwan is part of mainland China, and discarding Hong Kong's dearly-held autonomy and love affair with democracy.
The two have proposed "joint actions" in defence of both Russian and Chinese 'security interests', according to a report issued by the Kremlin. A 90-minute video call had the two leaders celebrating the "model" relations between them, both countries locked in confrontation with the United States on a deepening trajectory.
Oddly enough the reports highlight two events; Russia's build-up of troops along the Ukraine border; China's People's Liberation Army's drills in a practice run for a Taiwanese assault.
Vladimir Putin informed his "dear friend" of Russia's travails in "mounting threats to Russia's national interests from the U.S. and the NATO bloc, which consistently move their military infrastructure close to the Russian border".
And while they were at this uber-friendly confab, Mr.Putin assured Mr. Xi of his intention to attend Beijing's Winter Olympics in February, an event that will be shy of the presence of Western diplomats who have decided to use a diplomatic gesture to express displeasure in China's intimidation of its neighbours and repression of its Uyghur population.
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| Russia and China’s verbal sparring
with the US over competing visions of multilateralism last week in the
UN Security Council exemplified the closer ties forged over recent years
between Moscow and Beijing. Kremlin.ru |
Labels: Best Friends, China, Russia, Virtual Support, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping
posted by Pieface @ Friday, December 17, 2021
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