China emphasizes its neutral stance in the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu has now met the ruler Putin.
During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu highlighted the “very strong” and “very stable” relations between Russia and China. “They are better than the military and political alliances of the Cold War era,” he said in the Kremlin on Sunday. “Recently, cooperation between Russia and China in the military and technical fields has developed very well. It is a contribution to global and regional security,” quoted the Russian state agency TASS.
At the meeting, Vladimir Putin emphasized the military cooperation between the two countries. “Our military departments actively cooperate, regularly exchange useful information, cooperate in the field of military-technical cooperation and hold joint exercises,” he said on Sunday. There have been exercises by ground, sea and air forces in the Far East and in Europe. “This is undoubtedly another key area that reinforces the highly trusting, strategic nature of our relationship.”
Speculations about Chinese weapons in the war zone
Relations between the two countries were generally developing well, Putin said, including in economic, social, cultural, educational and military areas. The meeting was also attended by Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
In fact, both countries have increased ties since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. According to its own statements, China is not supplying any weapons to Russia. On Friday, however, a Ukrainian official said Ukrainian forces were finding more and more Chinese components in Russian weapons used in Ukraine. This information could not initially be independently verified.
Putin seeks closeness to China
After the war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine and the resulting break with the West, Putin is trying to win over China as a strong partner. This Sunday, too, Putin clearly campaigned for China and, according to the Kremlin’s speech manuscript, said that President Xi Jinping was a “great friend” of Russia and “my friend”.
China sees itself as neutral in the war. However, Western states accuse the government in Beijing of tacitly supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
China announced Li’s visit to Russia last week. There was talk of a meeting with representatives of the Defense Ministry, but no meeting with Putin was announced. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Putin in Moscow in March.
