However, in his published article, President Xi stated: “ I have put forward several proposals (in context of Ukraine war), i.e. observing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect of legitimate security concerns of all countries….” The article does not mention respecting the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of all countries as this is counter to the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February 24. Simply put, the articles by both the leaders show convergence on Ukraine war and on opposing the US-led western powers.
In his article President Xi stated: “Our world is confronted with complex and intertwined and non-traditional security challenges, damaging acts of hegemony, domination and bullying, and long and torturous global economic recovery.” He goes on to say that no single country should dictate the international order and pushes for a multi-polar world after making it clear that China-Russia alliance is not targeted against any third country. President Xi does not mention US by name in the published piece as per its English translation.
President Putin was more forthright in his article and has attacked the US for adopting a dual containment strategy against both Russia and China. He stated: “The United States has adopted a dual containment policy against Russia and China, trying to contain any country that does not submit to the instructions of the US, and is becoming more and more rampant. The architecture of international security and cooperation is being dismantled. Russia has been declared imminent threat, which China has been called a strategic competitor.”
The Russian President blames the west for provoking the Ukraine crisis and accuses it for continuing to add fuel to fire. “ It is obvious to all that NATO is trying to expand its activities on global scale, with an eye on infiltrating the Asia-Pacific region…”
It is evident from the articles of the two leaders that China and Russia have synergized their positions on Ukraine war and are moving towards “no limits” across spectrum bilateral cooperation as a possible bulwark against the US led western powers. No wonder the two countries have attacked the QUAD and taken similar position on the Indo-Pacific.
Source- Hindustan Times.