Moscow (TDI): China’s President Xi Jinping is heading to Moscow today as Putin’s Guest of Honor at the military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
According to the Kremlin, the Participation of Chinese Leader, Xi Jinping, along with twenty eight other world leaders in Moscow is a clear indication of Russia’s growing authority in the world.
The visit of the Chinese leader has provided an important diplomatic boost to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, at a time when he is keen to show that Russia is not politically and economically isolated on the world stage.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has urged the countries to not participate in the parade in Moscow, stating that it would go against their declared neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war.
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Moreover, as the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies’ approaches, Ukraine has intensified drone attacks headed for Moscow which were countered by Russian air defense units, according to Moscow’s Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin. All major airports in Moscow remained out of operation forcing the Russian airlines to cope with the disruptions.
Earlier, the Chinese President urged both countries to end the war in Ukraine and criticized the United States for stoking the war by supplying more weapons to Ukraine. China is also looking to further deepen its strategic partnership with Russia by signing numerous agreements amid its tariff war with the United States.
In February, President Trump’s Special Envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that Washington would try to interrupt Russia’s close ties with countries like China, after which, President Xi and President Putin reaffirmed their’ “no limits partnership”.
China, Russia to Maintain Post-War International Order
President Xi, on Wednesday, published a signed article titled “Learning from History to Build Together a Brighter Future” in which he emphasized that China and Russia must “firmly maintain the post-war international order.”
The article further stated, “The two sides should jointly resist any attempt to disrupt and undermine China-Russia friendship and mutual trust,” and “China and Russia have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.”
Yun Sun, China political analyst at the Stimson Center, commented on the growing collaboration between the two countries and said that both Russia and China are aiming to show their “unbreakable bond” and demonstrate that the “reverse Nixon” approach of the US President would not work.
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He further said, “The World War Two focus is about the post-war international order and now the U.S. is dismantling or undermining it. So China and Russia will frame themselves as the defenders of the international order and the UN system, and oppose U.S. unilateralism and hegemony.”
Russian President, Vladimir Putin is also expected to visit China at the end of August or the start of September.
China is among the countries that rely heavily on Russian oil and gas and has helped Moscow navigate European sanctions imposed over its war on Ukraine.
Javaria Khalid is a writer and researcher, who specializes in Pakistan's Foreign Policy Analysis, transatlantic geopolitics, and Pakistan’s relations with the European countries and the EU. She can be reached at javariakhalid011@outlook.com
