In Beijing, Russia’s Defense Chief Hails Shared Views With China
China and Russia publicly reinforced their alliance as their top defense officials met in Beijing, rebuffing U.S. pressure ahead of an expected meeting between the leaders of the two countries in Russia next week.
Russian defense minister Andrei Belousov met on Oct. 15 with Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Central Military Commission, a top military decision-making body chaired by the Party general secretary, Xi Jinping.
Belousov told Zhang that Russia and China "share the same views, the same assessment of the current situation, and the same understanding of the measures we have to take together," according to a readout released by the Russian defense ministry.
He described discussions with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun the day before as "very fruitful."
Due to the efforts by Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two countries have developed a "strategic partnership," Belousov said without specifying. "Our task is to strengthen and develop it."
In response, Zhang told Belousov that the Sino-Russia relationship has reached "an all-time high" and "continues to develop healthily and steadily," according to the Chinese statement.
Zhang urged both sides to deepen military-to-military relations and "safeguard their respective national sovereignty, security, and development interests."
On the same day, the Chinese navy also conducted a joint drill with their Russian counterpart in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, where they engaged in "combat exercises with practical firing," according to the Russian defense ministry.
The top Russian defense official's visit also happened ahead of a potential meeting between Putin and Xi in Russia next week.
On Oct. 16, Russian Premier Mikhail Mishustin reiterated the warm welcome to Xi's upcoming visit.
"Next week, our leaders will meet at the BRICS summit in Kazan," Mishustin told his Chinese counterpart in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, according to the Russian readout. "And we are, of course, expecting our friend, Mr. Xi Jinping."
In response, Chinese Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed the two nations' bond and pledged to defend the specific interests of autocratic nations.
China and Russia "firmly stand by each other on issues that concern our fundamental interests," Li told Mishustin, according to the summary of the meeting published by China's foreign ministry. "Our strategic cooperation is effective, and our practical cooperation continues to grow."
During a meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in September, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised a "strong concern" over Beijing's support to Russia's industrial base as Putin pressed its invasion.
"Our intent is not to decouple Russia from China," Blinken told reporters after the meeting in New York. "Their relationship is their business. But insofar as that relationship involves providing Russia what it needs to continue this war, that's a problem—it's a problem for us, and it's a problem for many other countries, notably in Europe, because right now Russia presents the greatest threat, not just to Ukrainian security, but to European security since the end of the Cold War."
