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Why China needs Putin to win in Ukraine
NATO forces fear China is taking a back seat approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine
Until now, China has been Ukraine’s largest trading partner. But analysts believe China stands to profit even further if Russia takes over the country.
With every passing day of Putin’s war in Ukraine, it’s becoming clear just how great his miscalculation has been.
While the Ukrainian people and its government are suffering through the Russian onslaught, Putin’s regime is being laid bare.
Ukraine knows their resistance has limits, even with the help of NATO weaponry and aid.
While America has recently rewarded Ukraine’s efforts with more military aid than originally offered, another great power is sitting in the wings, patiently watching before deciding which side of history it wants to be associated with.
China’s silence
Despite Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing on the eve of the war, China has remained suspiciously quiet.
For one, China is Ukraine’s largest trading partner. As Russia intensifies its war, China’s installation of 4G services across the Kyiv metro system has been put on hold.
Massive agriculture shipments of corn and barley have stopped.
The Ukraine and China trade turnover grew to almost 9 billion dollars in 2018.
But China might be hoping its trade with Ukraine would only grow if Moscow-backed forces take over for good, because if Ukraine falls, then western sanctions would apply to it too – and China may then become its saviour.
China won’t budge
China has rebuffed calls from western powers to rein Russia in.
The US and NATO now fear that China has taken a sit back and wait approach to watch how the disaster in Ukraine unfolds.
Experts believe China wants to see Putin prevail in Ukraine, because his downfall or overthrow could leave Xi Jinping personally exposed.