ISW assessed the consequences of Putin's visit to Beijing: has China changed its position and what to expect

During his visit to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his desire to deepen economic and political ties with China, but his trip apparently failed to influence China's reluctance to establish the level of relations desired by the Kremlin or to provide military support to Russia. At the same time, Russia receives civilian drones from China that can be used on the battlefield in Ukraine.

This is stated in a report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on October 18. According to analysts, Putin in China the day before declared his desire to deepen ties with Beijing, but in fact did not announce any practical changes at the international forum "One Belt, One Road".

The dictator said that close coordination of Russian and Chinese foreign policy is especially necessary in the "current difficult conditions" and emphasized the importance of Russian-Chinese cooperation in multilateral formats, including the One Belt, One Road initiative, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

Putin also said that economic cooperation between Russia and China is an integral part of strengthening Russia's economic, technological, and financial sovereignty.

At the same time, he did not emphasize security cooperation, possibly because of China's restraint on the unlimited partnership that Russia wants to establish, ISW noted.

Putin also held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the minutes of the meeting available to the Kremlin also emphasize the economic ties between Russia and China, the report said.

At the same time, analysts noted that Putin apparently did not achieve any particular results with his trip.

"Putin's visit to China and meeting with Xi Jinping do not seem to have led to any significant changes in China's reluctance to establish the level of bilateral relations desired by the Kremlin or to any breakthroughs in the degree of Chinese military support for Russia," the report says.

At the same time, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on October 18 that almost all Russian civilian dual-purpose drones come from China and that the Russian government aims to increase domestic drone production to 41% by 2025.

"ISW has previously observed reports that China frequently exports dual-use equipment to Russia, including civilian drones that Russian troops may use on the battlefield in Ukraine," the analysts said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- Putin arrived in China on the morning of October 17 to participate in an economic forum and met with the country's leader Xi Jinping. This was his second foreign visit since he was put on the wanted list by The Hague. According to experts, it only underscores China's economic and diplomatic support for Russia amid its war against Ukraine.

- Before Putin's speech at the opening of the One Belt, One Road forum, several European officials demonstratively walked out of the room.

- The Chinese president arrived in China with his suitcases. Russia's propagandists hinted that "not a single trip" of Putin's is complete without these "special suitcases."

- In China, Putin made a series of cynical statements. The dictator "praised" the West for wanting to end the war diplomatically and "advised" Kyiv to negotiate with Moscow.

- He also called the "special operation" a war and called on the United States to "take away ATACMS and come to the tea party."

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